TREASURY

Employment

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which five regions had (a) the lowest and (b) the highest employment rates in each year since 1997; and what their respective rates were.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from C. Mowl to Mr. Frank Field, dated 7 May 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment rates. I am replying in his absence. (110683)
	The attached table gives the information requested for the twelve month periods ending December of each year from 1997 to 2002. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
	
		Working age(1) employment rates(2) by region and country in the UK—Average for January to December each year
		
			  Employment rate (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Five Government Office Regions with highest employment rates  
			 1997  
			 South East 78.4 
			 South West 77.1 
			 East 76.6 
			 East Midlands 75.6 
			 West Midlands 73.2 
			 1998  
			 South East 79.4 
			 South West 77.8 
			 East 77.7 
			 East Midlands 76.1 
			 West Midlands 74.2 
			 1999  
			 South East 79.8 
			 South West 78.4 
			 East 78.1 
			 East Midlands 76.4 
			 West Midlands 73.7 
			 2000  
			 South East 80.3 
			 South West 78.9 
			 East 78.8 
			 East Midlands 76.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 73.7 
			 2001  
			 South East 80.1 
			 East 79.3 
			 South West 78.9 
			 East Midlands 75.8 
			 West Midlands 73.9 
			 2002  
			 South East 79.7 
			 South West 79.0 
			 East 79.0 
			 East Midlands 76.4 
			 West Midlands 74.2 
			 Five Government Office Regions with the lowest employment rates  
			 1997  
			 Northern Ireland 67.1 
			 North East 67.3 
			 Wales 68.2 
			 London 69.9 
			 North West 70.2 
			 1998  
			 North East 66.6 
			 Northern Ireland 67.0 
			 Wales 68.0 
			 North West 70.2 
			 London 70.5 
			 1999  
			 North East 66.6 
			 Northern Ireland 67.0 
			 Wales 68.8 
			 North West 71.4 
			 Scotland 71.6 
			 2000  
			 Northern Ireland 66.4 
			 North East 68.1 
			 Wales 69.3 
			 London 70.8 
			 North West 72.3 
			 2001  
			 Northern Ireland 67.3 
			 North East 68.4 
			 Wales 68.5 
			 London 71.0 
			 North West 72.2 
			 2002  
			 Northern Ireland 67.7 
			 North East 68.4 
			 Wales 69.8 
			 London 70.5 
			 North West 72.3 
		
	
	(1) Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59.
	(2) Working age people in employment as a percentage of the working age population.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Employment

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which 100 local authority wards have (a) the lowest and (b) the highest employment rates; and what the rates are in each case.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Frank Field, dated 7 May 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about employment rates in local authority wards. (110684)
	I regret to inform you that the data you requested are not available from the Labour Force Survey. However, Census data on employment will be available at ward level on 30 June.

Child Tax Credit

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change has taken place in the number of (a) physical and (b) verbal assaults on Inland Revenue staff since the introduction of child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The child tax credit was introduced on 6 April 2003 alongside working tax credit. Physical and verbal assaults on Inland Revenue staff have always been uncommon and remain so.

Civil Service (People with Disabilities)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in the Department.

Ruth Kelly: The proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in the Treasury is 1.1 per cent. against the corporate Senior Civil Service (SCS) target on disabled staff of 3 per cent. by 2005.
	We are taking steps to increase the recruitment of people with disabilities across the whole of the department, including staff in senior posts. Particular actions include:
	advertising all senior posts and highlighting that we are an equal opportunities employer;
	guaranteeing an interview to people with disabilities who meet the minimum requirement for our recruitment programmes;
	participating in the Cabinet Office scheme for people with disabilities, offering two placements this summer; and
	continuing to support the department's active Disability Advisory Group, sponsored by the Permanent Secretary, to ensure the interests of people with disabilities are taken on board when developing management and personnel policies.
	We are planning to conduct a full disability survey later this year to ensure our records of disabled staff are accurate and up to date.

Customs and Excise

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise staff have been deported under immigration law in the last two years.

John Healey: Customs and Excise have no record of any staff leaving the service in the last two years by reason of "deportation".

Debt Relief

Peter Pike: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will support efforts to find solutions to the collapse in coffee prices at the forthcoming G8 summit; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Coffee growers have been hit by low prices and deteriorating quality, the result of global over-supply and structural imbalances in the industry. The Government will support efforts to find solutions at the G8 summit and in follow-up work after the summit, notably for poor countries in Africa.
	There are a number of possibilities. The UK is already contributing to a sustainable coffee market by helping growers to diversify through its development programme; trying to expand the trade opportunities of commodity-dependent countries, cut tariffs and reduce the negative impact of the CAP. We are promoting foreign investment and good regulatory frameworks, increasing the aid budget to 0.40 per cent. of national income by 2005–06 and advocating more debt relief to highly indebted poor countries. A government-industry working group is currently looking at what more can be done to improve the livelihoods of poorer commodity producers in developing countries. The summit will consider what more can be done.

Football Clubs (Administration)

Andy Burnham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what agreement on unpaid tax the Inland Revenue has reached with each professional football club in administration in the last two years.

John Healey: When any business seeks protection from its creditors by appointing an administrator, the Inland Revenue is bound by insolvency law just like any other creditors. Due to taxpayer confidentiality, information about dealings with individual professional football clubs cannot be provided: Exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.

Income Drawdown

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints concerning income drawdown have been lodged in each year since 1996.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what work has been undertaken (a) to assess the basic economic indicators in Iraq and (b) to overcome the failure by the Iraqi regime to supply figures to international economic institutions;
	(2)  whether the IMF has issued interim reports on the work of its Iraq task force;
	(3)  whether his Department is working with the World bank to provide it with primary economic information on Iraq.

John Healey: Iraq's isolation from the international community, combined with the impact of two wars and 12 years of sanctions, means that reliable data on the Iraqi economy are extremely scarce. The World bank has not maintained active operations in Iraq (the last loan approved was in 1973) and regular reports by the international financial institutions on the economy, such as IMF Annual Article IV reports, have not been compiled for some years.
	In accordance with its guidelines for working with countries in conflict, the World Bank closely monitors developments in Iraq and maintains contacts with the United Nations and international donors to exchange information and build a knowledge base on the evolving socio-economic and humanitarian conditions on the ground.
	The UK Government are working with their international partners to ensure the effective engagement of the International Financial Institutions in the rehabilitation of post-conflict Iraq. The collection of accurate data and the preparation of a comprehensive needs assessment are key steps in that process. The UK Government are in regular contact with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on these matters.
	In a communiqué issued following their spring meetings, both the International Monetary and Finance Committee of the IMF, chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Development Committee of the World bank have noted that 'the IMF and World Bank stand ready to play their normal role in Iraq's re-development at the appropriate time'. Staff in both institutions have begun initial preparations for these tasks. Beyond information available on their websites, neither the World Bank nor the IMF has so far published any recent reports on Iraq.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tariffs exist on the importing of Iraqi goods to (a) the EU and (b) the UK.

John Healey: All imports from Iraq remain prohibited without an import licence while United Nations sanctions remain in force. Prior to sanctions being imposed in 1990, imports from Iraq were eligible for reduced rates of customs duty under the Generalised System of Preferences.
	Customs duty rates of the EU and UK are one and the same. The HM Customs and Excise Tariff lists both full and preferential rates of duty and includes information on the Generalised System of Preferences. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

Landfill Tax

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised by the landfill tax in the UK in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and how much revenue he estimates will be raised in 2003–04.

John Healey: Landfill tax receipts figures for the financial years 2001–02 to 2003–04 were published in the April 2003 Financial Statement and Budget Report (FSBR). The 2001–02 figure is an outturn figure, while that for 2002–03 is an estimate and that for 2003–04 is a forecast. The published rounded figures are:
	
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			 2001–02 0.5 
			 2002–03 0.5 
			 2003–04 0.7

National Insurance

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the national insurance lower earnings limit.

Dawn Primarolo: None. The lower earnings limit is currently £77 per week and it is linked to the weekly rate of the basic state pension.

Road Fuel Gases

Helen Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding his decision to consult stakeholders before announcing decisions on fuel duty rates on road fuel gases.

John Healey: Treasury Ministers have received no representations on this decision to consult.

Stakeholder Pensions

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints concerning the sale of stakeholder pensions have been received in each year since their introduction; and what broad categories these complaints fell into.

Ruth Kelly: If the Treasury receives complaints about the sale of stakeholder pensions, it refers complainants to the firm concerned. Where it is evident that the complainant has already complained to the firm concerned, and is dissatisfied with the handling of his complaint, the complainant is generally referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
	The Financial Ombudsman Service tells me that, between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2003, they received 115 complaints about stakeholder pensions.
	These complaints principally concerned administrative difficulties at the time of the initial purchase, in collecting premiums, in promptly transferring money into plans, and in providing information at the point of sale.

Tax Credits

Tim Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons previously on disabled persons tax credit are awaiting transfer to regular working tax credit payments.

Dawn Primarolo: Claim forms for working and child tax credits were sent to all individuals and couples who were receiving disabled person's tax credit. Awards are already being paid to all those who made their claims by 31 January 2003, except in a very few cases where further information is needed to make a decision on the claim. In these cases, the Inland Revenue should already have been in touch with claimants to ask for further information.

Tax Credits

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will post information on the Inland Revenue microsite for tax credits and on any reprints of tax credit application forms, stating that children may also be eligible for free school meals as a result of the credit;
	(2)  if he will ensure that more prominence is given in leaflets sent out with child tax credit awards to making parents aware of the free school meals entitlement for children.

Dawn Primarolo: There are a number of 'passported benefits' that may attach to the new tax credits, and the tax credits award notice and accompanying notes alert people to the fact they may qualify as a result of their award. In addition, a new Inland Revenue leaflet providing information and giving contact points for details on some of the more common benefits was published on the Inland Revenue website on 2 May 2003 . It will soon also be available in paper format.

Taxation

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people resident in Buckinghamshire pay income tax at the top rate of 40 per cent.

Dawn Primarolo: Around 10,000 Buckinghamshire residents paid income tax at the 40 per cent. rate in the 2000–01 tax year. This estimate is based on the Survey of Personal Incomes. This is the latest year for which estimates are available.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Education (Wandsworth)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much he has given to the London borough of Wandsworth for education services in the borough in the last three years.

David Miliband: The following table shows the Department's total Education Standard Spending Assessment, recurrent and capital grant allocated to Wandsworth local education authority for the financial years 2000–01 to 2002–03. Complete figures for 2003–04 are not yet available.
	
		£ million
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 SSA 101.9 105.2 102.9 
			 Recurrent grant 8.8 14.2 22.2 
			 Capital grant 7.4 7.0 12.3 
			 Total 118.1 126.4 137.4

Education Benefits

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to promote the benefits of (a) adult, (b) further and (c) higher education to school leavers, adults and those not in full-time employment; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Learning and Skills Council has specific legal responsibility for widening participation in learning across post-16 education and training in England. This Department supports the agenda to promote the benefits of learning across all sectors of education. This includes the "Aim Higher" campaign which promotes the benefits of higher education.

Examination Results

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils in England achieving A-levels in (a) mathematics and (b) English achieved grade A in (i) the best performing local education authority and (ii) the worst performing local education authority in the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		Percentage of A level passes that were grade A in 2002
		
			  LEA Percentage 
		
		
			 Maths 
			 Highest Reading 58.5 
			 Lowest Lambeth 5.6 
			   
			 English 
			 Highest Reading 30.2 
			 Lowest Hackney 0.8

Examination Results

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of GCSE students in the London Borough of Havering achieved five or more C grades, or higher, last year; and what the proportion was in other London boroughs.

David Miliband: The percentage of 15-year-olds achieving five or more GCSE grades C and above or the GNVQ equivalent in the London Borough of Havering in 2001/02 was 57.3. The figures for the other London boroughs are as follows.
	
		
			 London Borough Percentage of 15 year olds with 5 A*-C or better 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 42.3 
			 Barnet 59.1 
			 Bexley 52.6 
			 Brent 49.6 
			 Bromley 59.9 
			 Camden 48.4 
			 Croydon 48.9 
			 Ealing 49.8 
			 Enfield 46.2 
			 Greenwich 33.3 
			 Hackney 31.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 50.3 
			 Haringey 35.4 
			 Harrow 59.1 
			 Hillingdon 46.0 
			 Hounslow 49.5 
			 Islington 32.9 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 55.7 
			 Kingston upon Thames 60.0 
			 Lambeth 40.1 
			 Lewisham 38.7 
			 Merton 40.9 
			 Newham 42.4 
			 Redbridge 63.7 
			 Richmond upon Thames 51.4 
			 Southwark 35.7 
			 Sutton 64.8 
			 Tower Hamlets 43.6 
			 Waltham Forest 44.3 
			 Wandsworth 48.6 
			 Westminster, city of 41.5

Individual Learning Accounts

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to include small-scale learning providers within the ambit of a revised Individual Learning Account scheme.

Ivan Lewis: For all its failings, ILA was successful in getting non-traditional learners back into learning, and that success was based in part on the role played by the best providers, many of them small scale, who were able to encourage learners to take the first step. This influence will be as important in the successor scheme as it was in the original programme. The scheme will promote high quality relevant learning, whether from small or large scale providers. Details of the scheme will be announced next month as part of the Skills Strategy.

Oxford and Cambridge (Admissions)

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many, and what percentage, of (a) applicants and (b) successful applicants there were to (i) Oxford and (ii) Cambridge University from (A) fee paying schools, (B) local authority 11–18 comprehensive schools, (C) sixth form colleges, (D) state grammar schools and (E) further education colleges, in each of the last three years, broken down by constituent college.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 March 2003
	The available information for the constituent colleges of Oxford and Cambridge is shown in the following tables. These figures are compiled by the institutions themselves, who are responsible for its accuracy. The tables cover all applicants, irrespective of their qualifications, and therefore take no account of any differential levels of A-level attainment between students from the maintained and independent school sectors.
	
		
			   Percentage of applications from maintained sector  Percentage of acceptances from maintained sector 
			  Year of entry Year of entry 
			 Cambridge University 2000 2001 2002 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Christ's 55 58 61 37 51 54 
			 Churchill 75 68 70 68 58 66 
			 Clare 56 65 66 55 59 60 
			 Corpus Christi 49 56 57 39 53 52 
			 Downing 51 47 54 41 46 50 
			 Emmanuel 61 59 57 54 53 54 
			 Fitzwilliam 71 68 72 66 60 69 
			 Girton 61 62 64 61 58 51 
			 Gonville and Caius 48 46 52 48 36 46 
			 Homerton(3) — — 76 — — 72 
			 Hughes Hall(4) — — 60 — — 100 
			 Jesus 57 53 53 54 56 56 
			 King's 84 85 80 77 78 69 
			 Lucy Cavendish(4) — — 89 — — 100 
			 Magdalene 42 42 48 36 44 55 
			 New Hall 59 58 65 58 55 54 
			 Newnham 58 64 62 49 59 61 
			 Pembroke 55 57 59 50 50 51 
			 Peterhouse 52 45 53 43 43 53 
			 Queen's 60 60 57 55 53 47 
			 Robinson 65 64 69 56 64 62 
			 Selwyn 58 54 61 49 48 58 
			 Sidney Sussex 55 58 58 45 52 58 
			 St. Catherine's 58 52 59 52 51 57 
			 St. Edmund's(4) — — 100 — — — 
			 St. John's 52 55 50 45 49 45 
			 Trinity 56 52 54 48 45 44 
			 Trinity Hall 55 53 52 47 50 43 
			 Wolfson(4) — — 83 — — 83 
			 All standard colleges 59 58 60 52 53 55 
			 Mature student colleges (Hugh Hall, Lucy Cavendish, St. Edmunds and Wilfson) 86 86 — 87 87 — 
		
	
	(3) Homerton College amalgamated with Cambridge on 1 April 2001.
	(4) Prior to 2002, figures for these colleges were amalgamated.
	
		
			   Percentage of applications from maintained sector  Percentage of offers to maintained sector 
			Year of entry   Year of entry 
			 Oxford University 20001 2001 2002 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Balliol — 50 61 56 53 51 
			 Brasenose — 40 40 44 44 49 
			 Christ Church — 43 49 47 39 47 
			 Corpus Christi — 57 60 56 52 58 
			 Exeter — 51 52 60 56 48 
			 Harris Manchester — 100 100 100 86 92 
			 Hertford — 69 76 61 67 71 
			 Jesus — 67 68 57 58 61 
			 Keble — 58 63 65 60 59 
			 Lady Margaret Hall — 46 51 47 41 52 
			 Lincoln — 52 63 46 57 64 
			 Magdalene — 56 57 46 52 52 
			 Mansfield — 71 81 75 67 75 
			 Merton — 61 59 61 54 53 
			 New — 54 53 48 49 55 
			 Oriel — 46 54 40 45 49 
			 Pembroke — 45 46 45 55 51 
			 Queen's — 50 49 53 57 46 
			 Somerville — 55 55 60 61 64 
			 St. Anne's — 53 61 61 57 55 
			 St. Catherine's — 59 58 56 49 44 
			 St. Edmund Hall — 40 46 42 60 55 
			 St. Hilda's — 62 61 53 64 63 
			 St. Hugh's — 63 62 50 66 74 
			 St. John's — 67 80 70 53 51 
			 St. Peter's — 50 49 51 61 64 
			 Trinity — 47 49 44 54 51 
			 University — 46 46 48 43 49 
			 Wadham — 71 75 66 68 73 
			 Worcester — 41 49 47 48 48 
			 Total — 55 59 54 55 57 
		
	
	(5) Figures not available for applications in 2000.

School Buildings

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has had with regard to the imposition of VAT on new school buildings used partly by the general public; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: My Department has received no representations recently with regard to the imposition of VAT on new school buildings used partly by the general public. Any specific correspondence on this issue would normally have been forwarded to Customs and Excise for their response, as they have policy responsibility for VAT.

School Inspections

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what proportion of lessons inspected by Ofsted use pupil setting for (a) year 10 and (b) year 11;
	(2)  how many independent schools were inspected by Ofsted in 2002;
	(3)  what percentage of secondary state school lessons inspected by Ofsted in 2001–02 were judged satisfactory or better; and what percentage were judged poor;
	(4)  what percentage of state secondary schools inspected by Ofsted in 2001–02 have an obligatory school uniform policy; and what percentage have a school prefect system.

David Miliband: These are matters for Ofsted and I have asked HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, to write to the hon. member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Skills Shortages

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on skills shortages in the Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire Local Learning and Skills area.

Margaret Hodge: Revised figures from the Employers Skill Survey 2001, funded by the Department, showed that 6 per cent. of employers reported skill shortage vacancies in the Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire Local Learning and Skills area. This compared with an average of 4 per cent. and a high of 12 per cent. for England., There were eight skill shortage vacancies per thousand employees in this area, which was the average for England.

Teachernet Website

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what has been the cost of developing the new Teachernet emergency planning website;
	(2)  when his Department will set a date for the launch of the Teachernet emergency planning website;
	(3)  how many (a) teachers and (b) local education authorities have been consulted regarding the content of the Teachernet emergency planning website.

Ivan Lewis: Development of the Teachenet emergency planning website has cost approximately £60,000. My Department invited all local education authorities (LEAs) in England to identify staff and teachers who would like to test the site. 17 LEAs responded that they would like to take part. We have not yet received responses from all of them so we do not yet know how many individuals have been involved.
	I will set a date for launch of the website when I am satisfied that all responses have been received and properly considered, and consequent improvements to the site have been made.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service (People with Disabilities)

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in the Department.

Douglas Alexander: As at 29 April 2003 0.5 per cent. of staff at senior civil service level in the Cabinet Office are disabled. The Cabinet Office has a target to increase this proportion to 3 per cent. by 2005 and has put in place a number of initiatives to help achieve this. The Department is a member of the cross-departmental Disability Working Group, which is currently working to identify best practice in surveying staff on disability—a re-survey of Cabinet Office staff is planned once this work is complete.
	The Cabinet Office also supports its own departmental network for disabled staff (DISCO) and will be working with them to support a number of events throughout the coming year to promote the European Year of Disabled People. This includes hosting information meetings on various disabilities such as diabetes, epilepsy and ME.

Contingency Planning

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what preparations he has made for the distribution of information to the general public in the event of a civil emergency.

Douglas Alexander: Long-standing protocols exist for distributing information to the public in the event of a civil emergency. These arrangements are maintained by the Government Information and Communication Service within the Cabinet Office.
	The Emergency Services warn and advise those in the immediate vicinity of an incident, working closely with other bodies as appropriate.
	Away from the emergency the public will be advised, as appropriate, in line with the Government's 'Go In Stay In Tune In' doctrine. We have made arrangements with the media for them to transmit detailed warning advice and guidance to the public by TV, Radio, Teletext, Ceefax and through websites as appropriate.
	These arrangements are appropriate to existing and anticipated threat levels.

Document Classification

Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many documents are held by his Office that are subject to security classification, broken down by category of classification.

Douglas Alexander: The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. My Department follows the Cabinet Office guidance on document marking and control.

E-Envoy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to change (a) the level of staffing and (b) the role of the Office of the e-Envoy;
	(2)  how many staff have worked in the Office of the e-Envoy in each month since its establishment;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the work of the Office of the e-Envoy since its establishment.

Douglas Alexander: The following table should have been used, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2003, Official Report, columns 799W–80W:
	
		
			  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 
		
		
			 1999 36 39 48 50 
			 2000 51 51 53 54 56 56 54 52 56 57 60 60 
			 2001 62 71 92 111 123 125 129 128 138 146 147 145 
			 2002 148 145 143 142 138 141 140 134 139 140 144 145 
			 2003 141 141 138

Entertainment

James Gray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he has entertained Labour honourable Members at public expense in the last 12 months; and at what cost.

Douglas Alexander: No such events have taken place.

Property Portfolio

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the estimated value is of the property portfolio held by the Cabinet Office.

Douglas Alexander: The estimated value of the total property portfolio held by the Cabinet Office on 31 March 2002 was £157.1 million.
	The above figure includes Downing Street and buildings that are owned by the Cabinet Office but are jointly occupied with other departments.

Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff in the Office were on long term sick leave in each of the last five years.

Douglas Alexander: There is no central definition of long term absence. Cabinet Office uses absence of at least 20 calendar days as a general guide. Numbers of staff with recorded absence above this level have been as follows:
	
		
			 Year Numbers of staff with more than 20 calendar days absence Number of staff in post 
		
		
			 1999 73 1,560 
			 2000 80 1,750 
			 2001 126 1,840 
			 2002 139 1,950 
		
	
	Records are not available for 1998.
	The Cabinet Office is committed to managing attendance effectively. We already have in place procedures recommended by the 1998 report "Working Well Together—Managing Attendance in the Public Sector"; and new procedures for proactive monitoring of attendance, where absence levels reach 10 calendar days in 12 months, will be introduced by the summer.
	Our target for overall levels of absence is no more than 6.1 days per staff year by the end of 2003.
	Records of absence published in the latest annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" show that for the Cabinet Office in 2001:
	the average absence per staff member was 5.7 days
	54.3 per cent. of staff had no recorded absence

WORK AND PENSIONS

Age Discrimination

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to address the issue of age discrimination.

Malcolm Wicks: We have already implemented recommendations from the Performance and Innovation Unit Report, "Winning The Generation Game". The Department has already implemented policies to allow staff to stay on up to age 65, and we have delivered the Green Paper on Pensions. The Department has also taken steps to promote the provisions of the Government's Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment.
	We are currently developing our policy on age alongside new legislation from the EC Article 13 Employment and Race Directives. The legislation to outlaw unfair discrimination at work on the grounds of age is required to be in place by December 2006.
	The Department has taken age into consideration in its development and equality proofing of all human resource policies and processes and is committed to tackling any negative attitudes towards older staff. We are currently working with the Employers Forum on Age to progress age diversity policies by using their policy review toolkit 'One Step Ahead'. The toolkit sets out the framework to enable employers to undertake a comprehensive age equality review and to deliver age "neutrality" across the business. The toolkit will shortly be issued across the DWP HR community.
	The Department plays an active role in promoting age diversity to the wider employment market through the Age Positive Campaign. The campaign material can be accessed via the website and includes the Government's current code of practice "Age Diversity in Employment" which is also available in the Library. It has examples of good practice and ministerial support.
	There are well-advanced plans to establish an Age Champion and a network of staff groups across my Department's businesses to focus on age issues. A Diversity Awareness Programme is being rolled out across my Department and this includes important messages about behaviour and negative attitudes towards age.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what expenditure has been incurred by his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if he will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each.

Malcolm Wicks: Details of expenditure incurred by this Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies, in 2002 in respect on opinion polls, focus groups and other forms of market research of opinion polls, are given in the following table.
	The cost information provided in the table is, in the main, that incurred in the financial year 2002–03. Financial information provided for the 2002–03 financial year is provisional and subject to final audit.
	Some of the projects listed may have been undertaken by a mixture of methodologies, for example, in-depth interviews and surveys, in addition to focus groups and opinion polls. In such instances, it has not always been possible to disaggregate costs for the individual elements.
	While this Department is keen to hear what people have to say about proposed new policies and ideas, we are committed to obtaining best value for money. Public opinion research, including focus groups and polling, is subject to the usual strict rules that spending must represent good value for the taxpayer and must not be used for party political purposes.
	
		Research involving opinion polls
		
			 Title Purpose Cost 
		
		
			 Welfare Reforms Omnibus Survey Monitoring attitudes towards various aspects of the work areas covered by the Department. £9,600 
			 Disability and Carers Benefits Directorate (DCBD) Customer Satisfaction Survey 2001–02 The postal survey conducted in February 2001, provided Disability and Carers Service (DCS), which replaced the DCBD in April 2002, with valuable customer feedback and a baseline from which the DCS can measure future improvements in service delivery. The questionnaire asked customers to comment on their experiences when dealing with the DCBD by telephone, written correspondence or when visiting the offices and, additionally, when claiming one of the benefits DCBD administer. £5,015 
			 (postal charges onlyas survey wasconducted in-house). 
			 Jobcentre Plus Customer Satisfaction Survey A large scale client survey undertaken to determine satisfaction with the level of service received from Jobcentre Plus. The survey involved 3,100 telephone interviews with a range of benefit recipients accessing a variety of Jobcentre Plus services. £88,600 
			 Appeals Service Customer Survey To assess performance against Service First Standards which cannot be measured internally and to obtain information direct from customers about the service they have received. The survey also informs the work being undertaken by the Modernising Appeals Programme on the shape of future service including opening hours and tribunal session times. £46,455 
			 Attitudes and Awareness Survey To obtain information on the level of awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Rights Commission. £20,000 
			 Young Disabled People Survey To obtain information on the opinion and attitudes of young disabled people. £94,000 
			 Attitudes to Electronic Service Delivery To explore public attitudes to providing DWP services on-line, and examine how to maximise take-up. This research included 20 mini focus groups, as part of a wider project. £41,347 
			 Easing the Transition to Work Focus Groups with (former) Benefit Agency, Employment Service and Local Authority staff in London and South Wales to explore their experiences and views of promoting and administering various work incentives measures. This was one element of a wider research project. £15,970 
			 Developing Services for Pensioners Giving customers the opportunity to express their views on service development for The Pension Service. £34,400 
			 Evaluation of Action Teams for Jobs Evaluation of Action Teams for Jobs during its first year of operation. £2,950 
			 Evaluation of the Remote Jobpoints Experiment in Port Talbot and Luton—surveys results from Stage 1 and Stage 2 This comprised a small scale quantitative survey of users and non users of remote jobseeking services in two Tesco supermarkets —market research, fed into the development of a larger project termed flexible service delivery. £62,345 
			 New Deal 50 Plus Regional Marketing Evaluation Purpose of the survey was to evaluate the regional marketing programme for ND50+. The research provides an overview of how the marketing campaigns have worked and feedback to inform the development of future marketing activity. £10,580 
			 Diversity in Disability To provide a greater understanding of the life experiences of disabled men and women from different minority ethnic groups. £57,429 
			 Evaluation of Community Sentences Withdrawal of Benefits To establish staff views of the implementation of the policy in pilot areas. Group discussions were held with staff from the Benefits Agency, Employment Service and Probation Service. This was in addition to 31 interviews with staff and 55 interviews with offenders. £81,395 
			 Evaluation of the Permitted Work Rules for Incapacity Benefit Claimants To obtain information on the use of the new arrangements by staff who apply them or refer to them in their work. £85,500 
			 Awareness of SENDA To obtain information on the level of awareness among educationalists, disabled young people and their parents. £19,000 
			 Publication Focus Group Consultation of DRC publications. £509 
			 Jobseeker Direct Customer Satisfaction Survey Small scale national quantitative survey of users of Jobseeker Directive , looking at the views of the service and how it could be improved. £30,350 
			 Jobseeker Traffic Survey Large national survey of jobseekers views of Jobcentre Plus services. £67,000 
			 Awareness Day Research Pre and post research to evaluate the effectiveness of the awareness raising campaign. £11,000

Part-time Workers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the Part-time Workers Directive on staff in his Department.

Maria Eagle: The Part-time Workers Directive has not had a significant impact on staff in DWP. Existing policies already provided a range of working patterns for all our staff, both male and female. Full-time staff can work in non-traditional ways (e.g. compressed hours, informal home-working), and part-time staff can work part year, for example during school terms but not during school holidays.
	We also recognise that some part-time staff do not have children; they have simply made other life choices. Staff may take the opportunity to match their working arrangements with their personal lives and responsibilities as carers, to study, undertake voluntary work, or pursue other interests. More than 25 per cent. (see Table A) of DWP staff work part-time (source: DWP baseline map for year ending 30 September 2002) against a little over 15 per cent. in the Civil Service as a whole (Civil Service statistics October 2002).
	A recent survey of DWP staff indicated that 67 per cent. (see Table B) of staff were in agreement that "the organisation allowed people to adopt a work pattern to accommodate a work life balance" 22 per cent. did not have an opinion either way and only 11 per cent. felt that their work pattern conflicted with their home life (source: staff survey 2002).
	DWP ensures that part-time staff are not treated less favourably in their contractual terms and conditions than comparable full time staff; the 'pro rata principle' applies wherever appropriate.
	
		Table A: Staff in post by work pattern and gender (DWP HR baseline map 30 September 2002)
		
			  Full time Part-time 
		
		
			 Male 39,460 2,080 
			 Female 62,424 33,020 
			 Total 101,884 35,100 
			 Percentage   
			 Male 38.7 5.9 
			 Female 61.3 94.1 
		
	
	
		Table B: The percentage of staff in DWP who feel that: "The organisation allows me to adopt a working pattern which helps me balance my work and home life" (Staff survey result 2002)
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Strongly agree 14 
			 Agree 53 
			 Neither agree nor disagree 22 
			 Disagree 9 
			 Strongly disagree 2

Pensions

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on incentives to contribute to private pension schemes of the fact that student maintenance loans are paid from gross income.

Maria Eagle: The Government recognise the value of saving for retirement in providing people with security, comfort in retirement and long-term independence and security. To address the problems that may have discouraged people of all ages from saving in the past the Government are implementing a strategy designed to create the right environment for saving; provide incentives to save through favourable tax treatment; and ensure everyone has access to the financial information they need to make informed savings decisions.
	It also recognised that there will be times in many people's lives when they cannot afford both to contribute to a pension and meet their current needs, but it is important that people save when they can afford to do so. Student loans are repaid on an income contingent basis, which means that the amount repaid is affordable and does not prevent graduates from making other investments such as contributions to a pension scheme.

Pensions

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will add projected life expectancy to the information available on government pension statements.

Malcolm Wicks: The pension forecast statements issued by the Department for Work and Pensions are to provide individuals with the information on state pensions to help them plan their incomes in retirement. The statements are personal to the individual and do not contain information on life expectancy of either the individual, or the general population.
	Customer research conducted on the information contained in these statements has not highlighted the need to provide such information and there are currently no plans to do so.

Pensions

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the promotional material for the pensions credit will make clear that products such as equity release affect any tax credits available.

Maria Eagle: A Guide to Pension Credit will be published in September. This publication will provide detailed information about the way income and capital is treated in the calculation and will make it clear that money raised from a loan on property or through equity release counts as capital.

Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many responses he has received to the Green Paper on Pensions; and if he will place copies of the responses in the Library.

Maria Eagle: There have been over 800 responses to the consultation on the Green Paper, Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and saving for retirement (Cm 5677).
	We are analysing responses and will respond to the consultation in due course. Copies of the responses will then be placed in the Library.

Pensions

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to increase the payment due under the caring allowance entitlement of the State Second Pension.

Maria Eagle: There are no plans to increase the level of State Second Pension for those who qualify through caring responsibilities.

Pensioner Benefits

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland will benefit from (a) the increased state pension and (b) the additional winter fuel payments for over-80s.

Maria Eagle: We increased the basic state pension by above inflation in April 2003. Everyone who is entitled to a basic state pension will benefit from the increase.
	Information relating to the additional payments to the over-80s is not available in the format requested. However, there are around 3,600 people in Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency who are aged 80 or over. If they are entitled to a winter fuel payment, they will also be entitled to an additional payment.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Advertising Regulations

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place restricting companies from marketing products to children under 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the regulations in place for responsible advertising.

Melanie Johnson: Non-broadcast advertising in the UK is controlled primarily by self-regulation under which the Advertising Standards Authority is responsible for ensuring compliance with the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing. The Code contains specific rules on advertising to children.
	For advertisements appearing on the television, the Independent Television Commission oversees compliance with its own Code of Advertising Standards and Practice. With regard to advertisements on the radio, the Radio Authority licences and regulates the independent radio industry, including radio advertising, in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Broadcasting Act 1996.

Arbre

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the new owners of Arbre; and if she will make a statement on the sale of Arbre.

Brian Wilson: My officials have had discussions with the company interested in purchasing Arbre. There are a number of issues to be resolved before any announcement can be made. I hope that this matter can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion very soon.

Broadband

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many homes and businesses in Shropshire have a broadband connection.

Stephen Timms: These data are not available.

Carbon Sequestrian Leadership Forum

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the representation of the Government at the meetings of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum being held on (a) 14 and 15 May in San Francisco and (b) 23 to 25 June in Washington DC.

Brian Wilson: The Government are considering their level of representation at these international meetings.

Employers' Liability Insurance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to her Department by organisations in the voluntary sector which have had problems in obtaining employer liability insurance.

Nigel Griffiths: The DTI have not had representations from the voluntary sector because formal representations on this issue have been directed to the Home Office which is responsible for the voluntary sector, and to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which is leading a Government review of the employers' liability insurance system.
	The DWP-led review of the employers' liability insurance system aims to assess the case for reform and, if such a case is demonstrated, to identify the objectives and options for such reform. It is due to report in Spring 2003. Further details of the review are available at http:/www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2002/health-safety/eli-review/index.htm
	The Active Community Unit in the Home Office has set up the Insurance Cover Working Group (ICWG) to look into insurance difficulties for the voluntary sector and advise on practical solutions. The ICWG has engaged consultants, Alison Millward Associates, to undertake a study into the current position regarding the provision of insurance for the voluntary and community sector, including employers' liability insurance, and to make practical recommendations that will bring relief to the problems. The report is to be delivered to the ICWG on 16 June.
	Once the recommendations of these reports have been considered, decisions will be taken to implement agreed practical solutions in partnership with the voluntary and community sector, the insurance industry, local authorities and Government Departments.

Energy Meetings

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings have taken place between the Minister of State for Energy and (a) the World Coal Institute and (b) the IEA Clean Coal Technology Centre in 2001, 2002 and so far in 2003; and what meetings are planned for the rest of 2003.

Brian Wilson: No meetings have taken place between the Minister and the World Coal Institute and the IEA Clean Coal Technology Centre in this period, and none are planned for the rest of 2003. However, close contact is maintained between the Department of Trade and Industry and these organisations. DTI Officials attend the twice-yearly Executive Committee meetings of the IEA Clean Coal Technology Centre, the most recent of which was on the 24–25 April, and both the IEA Clean Coal Technology Centre and the World Coal Institute actively participate in the DTI's cleaner coal technology programme.

Fallen Stock Regulations

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional resources will be required by trading standards departments in Buckinghamshire in respect of new fallen stock regulations.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	Allocation of resources for enforcement of the new rules on disposal of fallen stock is a matter for local authorities.

Financial Assistance for Industry (Representation)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the Financial Assistance for Industry (Increase of Limit) Order.

Alan Johnson: No representations have been received.

Higgs Report

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many letters and submissions have been received by the DTI on the Higgs Report; and how many of these were in favour of its conclusions.

Melanie Johnson: The Higgs review made a number of recommendations relating to the role effectiveness of non-executive directors, many of which are to be taken forward to advance best practice through amendments to the combined code. The FRC is responsible for changes to the code and therefore for consulting on the amendments proposed in the Higgs review. Responses were sought by the FRC by 14 April. It is for the FRC to report on the responses to that consultation, and on amendments to the combined code resulting from the review and consultation.
	The Department has received a number of letters on the recommendations in the report, many of which enclosed copies of responses to the FRC. It has also received letters in relation to the work of the group, which is being led by Professor Laura Tyson, Dean of the London Business school, which was set up as envisaged in the report to bring to greater prominence candidates from the non-commercial sector.

Industrial Injuries

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value was of damages paid to sufferers of chronic bronchitis and emphysema and vibration white finger who live in the Easington constituency in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, and (c) 2002.

Brian Wilson: The figures are as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Year COPD VWF 
		
		
			 2000 1,575,226 9,801,475 
			 2001 3,300,724 10,594,815 
			 2002 7,020,245 7,723,689

Pharmacies

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received concerning the OFT report on Pharmacies from community based pharmacies; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: We have received numerous representations from community pharmacies and other stakeholders regarding the OFT report on the control of entry regulations and retail pharmacy services in the UK.
	In relation to England, the government has said that we favour change to open up the market and improve quality and access without diminishing the crucial role that pharmacies play, especially in poorer and rural areas. The Government intends to come forward with a balanced package of proposals for consultation before the summer recess.
	The regulations on pharmacy entry controls are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the devolved administrations announced their responses to the OFT's recommendations on 26 March.

National Minimum Wage

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are in receipt of the national minimum wage, broken down by (a) region, (b) county, (c) gender, (d) age group and (e) ethnic origin.

Alan Johnson: In Spring 2002 there were around 760,000 jobs in the UK that paid at or just above the level of the National Minimum Wage.
	The table provides a break down of this figure by region.
	
		Number of jobs paying at or just above the NMW rate1 in Spring 2002; United Kingdom
		
			  
		
		
			 North East 60,000 
			 North West 120,000 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 90,000 
			 East Midlands 70,000 
			 West Midlands 80,000 
			 Eastern 50,000 
			 London 30,000 
			 South East 60,000 
			 South West 60,000 
			 Wales 40,000 
			 Scotland 70,000 
			 Northern Ireland (7)— 
			 UK 760,000 
		
	
	(6) Defined as paid at £4.10–£4.19 for 22+ and £3.50–3.59 for 18–21 year olds.
	(7) Sample size too small for reliable estimate.
	Source
	ONS central estimates of Low Pay, Labour Force Survey & New Earnings Survey.
	In Spring 2002, around 560,000 women were in jobs that paid at or just above the level of the NMW compared to around 200,000 men.
	Around 50,000 18–21 year olds were in jobs that paid at or just above the NMW compared to around 710,000 adults aged 22 and over.
	Estimates by country, and ethnicity are not available due to sample sizes being too small to provide reliable estimates.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Illegal Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions concerning the illegal import of meat have been initiated as a result of the detector dogs experiment at Heathrow.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 28 April 2003
	No prosecutions have been undertaken as a result of seizures made by the detector dogs.
	A decision to bring a prosecution before the courts would take into account a number of factors, including the weight of evidence to prove intent to break the laws in question and the ability to bring the offender before the British courts. These criteria may not be easy to satisfy in the case of air passengers bringing in meat illegally, especially where small quantities are seized.
	The six-month detector dog pilot resulted in just under 10 tonnes of illegal products of animal origin being seized.
	Responsibility for the detector dogs was fully transferred to HM Customs and Excise on 1 May, as part of a wider transfer of anti-smuggling controls for products of animal origin.

Agricultural Incinerators

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the number of incinerators using (a) over and (b) under 50 kg/fuel per hour available to the UK farming industry.

Elliot Morley: Prior to the introduction of the EU Animal By-Products Regulation on 1 May 2003, the Department was not responsible for the approval of animal carcase incinerator, with the exception of incinerators which dispose of Specified Risk Material. A central register of operators currently approved to operate SRM incinerators indicates that as at 29 April 2003 there were 306 approved incinerators in Great Britain.
	However, we believe the number of low capacity animal carcase incinerators—those operating at less than 50kg/hour—to be around 2,500. 20 high-capacity incinerators are currently contracted to the Over-30-Months and Fallen Stock Survey schemes. No assessment has been made of the number of other high-capacity animal carcase incinerators in the country.

Agricultural Market Price Support

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of agricultural market price support on UK income distribution.

Elliot Morley: Agricultural market support measures under the CAP are estimated to have increased the cost of food for a notional family of four by about £5 to £6 per week. As food represents a higher proportion of the total expenditure for low income households, the impact will be more severe for these households. There are no estimates of the impact of market price support on the income distribution of UK farmers. However, the OECD's provisional estimates for 2001 show that market price support in the EU accounted for nearly 60 per cent. of total support to agriculture and represented 24 per cent. of the value of production at the farm gate. OECD estimates for individual commodities show that market price support represented 3 per cent. of the value of production of cereals, 37 per cent. for milk, 44 per cent. for sugar and 84 per cent. for beef and veal.

Animal Carcases

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how she recommends horse owners who have opted under the horse passport scheme not to put their horse into the human food chain should dispose of their carcasses;
	(2)  whether it is her policy that the Animal By-Products Regulations will result in a ban on the burial of horses on private land.

Elliot Morley: Current legislation permits a number of disposal routes for fallen stock, including horses. These include rendering, incineration, sending the carcases to a knacker or hunt kennel, or, in restricted circumstances only, burial or on-farm burning.
	The new EU Animal By-Products Regulation will be directly applicable in the UK and will ban the routine burial or open burning of animal carcases when it applies in member states from 1 May 2003. The other disposal routes can still be used.

Animal Carcases

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how long it will take to assess the responses from farmers on her Department's proposed scheme for the removal of carcases from farms after 1 May 2003;
	(2)  when she expects her proposed scheme to remove animal carcases from farms to be operational; and how farmers should deal with carcases until the scheme is operational.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 May 2003
	The closing date for responses is 6 May 2003. The time taken to then assess the viability of the scheme will be dependent on the number of responses and the type/size of holdings which have expressed an interest in the scheme. However, we would expect to have completed such an assessment by the end of May 2003.
	Assuming that the scheme is viable we anticipate that it will take a minimum of three months from the date when the decision is taken on whether to proceed to get the scheme operational.
	An infrastructure of approved knacker yards, hunt kennels, rendering plants and incinerators already exists to allow farmers to comply with the new rules. However, if farmers do not know who provides these services locally they can ring a help line on 0845 8507070 which has been set up to provide advice on collection and disposal facilities.

Bovine TB

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many herds under movement restrictions to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis have been subject to such controls for (a) more than two years, (b) between one and two years, (c) between six months and one year and (d) less than six months.

Elliot Morley: Information on the number of herds under movement restrictions in categories (a) to (d) is not available. However, preliminary information, in the form of herds in each category as a percentage of unconfirmed and confirmed incidents resolved in Great Britain in 2002, is given in the following table.
	
		Duration of TB movement restrictions as a percentage of all unconfirmed/confirmed TB incidents in GB ending in 2002
		
			 Duration of movement restrictions (8)As percentage of all unconfirmed TB incidents (8)As percentage of all confirmed TB incidents 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) more than two years Data not available Data not available 
			 (b) between one and two years 11 48 
			 (c) between six months and one year 8 20 
			 (d) less than six months 81 32 
		
	
	(8) Preliminary figures produced by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency from the Vetnet database

Bovine TB

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many of those herds suffering a breakdown following testing for bovine tuberculosis were (a) lesions found at the post mortem of any animal from the herd and (b) tissue samples taken which proved positive for Mycobacterium bovis in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: The number of confirmed new TB breakdowns is given in the following table.
	A confirmed TB incident is one in which (i) visible lesions are found in at least one of the slaughtered animals at post-mortem examination, and/or (ii) Mycobacterium bovis is cultured from the tissue samples of at least one reactor animal. Separate data on the two categories can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		TB incidents in Great Britain 1998–2002—herds
		
			 Year Number of confirmed new herd incidents 
		
		
			 1997 503 
			 1998 720 
			 1999 875 
			 2000 1,044 
			 2001 511 
			 2002 (9)1,837–1,962 
		
	
	(9) Provisional figures.
	Note:
	Data will remain provisional until all culture results are available and data validation has been carried out.
	Source:
	Vetnet

Bovine TB

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish the results of the present research into the impact of TB in badgers on cattle.

Elliot Morley: Defra has a wide-ranging bovine TB research programme, comprised of many individual research projects. Once individual projects are complete final reports are published on the Defra website. Some of the projects currently underway are not scheduled to end until 2006.
	The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB is reviewing the effect of the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak on the badger culling trial and is expected to provide advice to Ministers on the likely completion date shortly. In addition, an independent audit panel has just been set up to look at the progress of the trial and the likely timescale to which it will produce results.

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of those herds with a breakdown confirmed by a positive laboratory test for Mycrobacterium bovis, how many are vaccinated against bovine viral diarrhoea.

Elliot Morley: These data are not available.

Cement Kilns

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total annual dioxin emissions produced by cement kilns were in each year for 1997 to 2002.

Alun Michael: The estimated total annual emissions of dioxins produced by cement kilns were as follows: 1997, 2.829 grams; 1998, 2.883 grams; 1999, 8.511 grams; 2000, 4.715 grams; and 2001, 5.684 grams. Data are not yet available for 2002.

Civil Service (People with Disabilities)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in her Department.

Alun Michael: In common with other Government Departments, Defra has a target for increasing the number of disabled civil servants to 3 per cent. by 2005. Currently, 1 per cent. of Defra's Senior Civil Servants have declared a disability. At grades below SCS the figure is 6 per cent.
	Defra is taking steps to address the low number of disabled Senior Civil Servants. In addition to running the 'Two Ticks' guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants, the Department participates in central schemes targeted at disabled staff including the civil service bursary scheme and fast stream summer placements for disabled graduates.
	We encourage members of staff to declare their disability but this is voluntary and there may be a degree of under-reporting. The Department is considering what we can do to improve the response rate. We are also represented on the Cabinet Office's Disability Working Group which is looking at this issue for Government Department's in general.

Dolphins

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will publish the critical findings of the use of dolphin friendly fishing gear;
	(2)  if she will publish the results of her Department's surveys on board UK pair trawlers to establish how many dolphins were killed per 100 net hauls; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Research by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) carried out in 2002 on behalf of the Department into the use of exclusion devices to reduce the by-catch of cetaceans in the offshore bass fishery has been published on my Department's website at: www://defraweb/science/project data/DocumentLibrary/MF0733 A report on further research carried out during the 2003 spring bass fishery will be published later this year and I will ensure the hon. Member receives a copy.
	Since 2000, SMRU, under contract to Defra, has carried out a number of surveys to estimate the level of by-catch in UK pelagic fisheries. Surveys of the bass fishery in 2001 and 2002 recorded 62 common dolphins caught in 182 hauls observed. This information has been published in the UK by-catch response strategy, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Dolphins

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to prevent the death of dolphins caused by bass fishing in the English Channel.

Elliot Morley: Action to address the issue of dolphin and porpoise by-catch needs to be taken internationally, as fishing vessels from many countries are involved. We have been pressing for such action within the EU and have commissioned a programme of research and development to reinforce our arguments. Urgent action is needed in the pair trawl fishery for bass off south west England, which involves a substantial number of vessels from other member states. Our research programme identified a by-catch problem in this fishery and is now trialling a possible gear solution. This looks promising, and I am determined to achieve a solution by this or other means. The second urgent need is to deploy EU observers to identify and assess other problem fisheries. I have followed up action in the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, by writing to Commissioner Fischler and the French Fisheries Minister in support of effective measures. In addition, with the devolved administrations, I have issued a consultation document outlining a UK by-catch response strategy, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

Dolphins

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what progress is being made by the Secretary of State in discussion with European Commissioners to introduce an EU-wide observer programme to broaden information on by-catch of dolphins in EU fisheries;
	(2)  what progress the Government have made in their discussions with the French Government to carry observers on French trawlers to ascertain the numbers of dolphins being caught in French nets;
	(3)  what proposals she has to ask the European Commission for a seasonal closure of fisheries to protect dolphins;
	(4)  what estimates her Department has made of the numbers of French trawlers involved in pair-trawling for sea bass in the English Channel; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  what the Government's policy is on the banning of pair-trawling to protect dolphins in the English Channel;
	(6)  what plans the Government have to introduce legislation on dolphin-friendly fishing nets in time for the 2003–04 winter bass migration.

Elliot Morley: We highlighted the need for urgent action on the issue of cetacean by-catch at the January meeting of the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers. I have also pursued this issue with Commissioner Fischler on a number of occasions, both in writing and in personal contacts.
	I have recently written to the Commission to press for urgent action to widen observer coverage off the south-west coast where a number of other member states' vessels fish. I was pleased that the Commission included a commitment to take action in this area in papers produced as part of the recent reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Commissioner Fischler has sent an encouraging reply sharing the UK's concern and agreeing a need to act at Community level, but I will follow up our recent approaches and continue to press for concrete proposals for positive action.
	I have also recently written to Hervé Gaymard, the French Fisheries Minister, stressing the need for effective action, and requesting his support for measures to widen observer coverage with a view to the reduction of cetacean by-catch. Action by France is particularly important as French pair trawlers play a substantial part in the offshore bass fishery; estimates are that some 30 to 40 French pairs are involved in this fishery.
	Defra has committed some £140,000 for trialling the use of exclusion devices developed by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) to reduce the by-catch of cetaceans in the offshore bass fishery. If SMRU's trials do not identify the use of the separator grids as a viable solution, we will look at other measures. I do not rule out any approach at this stage including arguing for restrictions on fishing, the gear that can be used or seasonal closures.
	In the meantime, I, along with the Devolved Administrations, have issued a consultation document outlining a UK by-catch response strategy. This sets out the extent of our knowledge of by-catch in UK waters and makes proposals for action to address the by-catch problem. The document has been placed in the Library of the House.

Fallen Wildlife

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the bio-security risk of fallen wildlife in the countryside.

Elliot Morley: No formal assessment has been made of the bio-security risks of fallen wild animals in the countryside. The carcases, or parts of carcases, of wild animals will be exempt from the scope of the Animal By-Products Regulation unless they are thought to be diseased or are used to produce game trophies. Although the Regulation places them under no legal obligation, owners of property on which there are dead wild animals are advised to contact their local authority for advice on appropriate disposal methods.
	In some parts of the country, (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire), badgers may be infected with TB. In these areas, those who find dead badgers are advised to contact their local Animal Health Office who may wish to test the carcase for TB.

Farm Subsidies

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 14 April 2003, Official Report, columns 479–80W, on farm subsidies, what proportion of production-linked subsidy payments have been redirected into rural development measures since 2001.

Elliot Morley: The Common Agricultural Policy Horizontal Regulation (Reg.1259/99) enables member states to redirect up to 20 per cent. of CAP direct subsidy payments for the purpose of co-financing new expenditure on the so-called 'accompanying measures'—essentially, in England, the agri-environment schemes and farm woodlands.
	The Government's policy of modulating production-based subsidy payments into rural development was first introduced in the UK in 2001 at a relatively low, flat rate of 2.5 per cent. following full consultation. The rate, which under existing legislation will rise progressively to 4.5 per cent. by 2005, rose to 3 per cent. in 2002 and again in 2003 to the current rate of 3.5 per cent.

Fast Food Outlets

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it compulsory for fast food outlets and commercial kitchens to install (a) fat traps and (b) grease interceptors in their waste water discharge systems.

Elliot Morley: Sewerage undertakers have powers to control and reduce discharges of fat and oil into sewers. If they consider the discharge constitutes trade effluent, their consent is required in accordance with the provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991. The consent may set conditions and require the elimination or diminution of any specified constituent of the trade effluent before it enters the sewer. Such a discharge without the undertaker's agreement is a criminal offence.
	If the sewerage undertaker does not classify the discharge as trade effluent, it is still an offence under section 111 of the 1991 Act, for a person to empty into a public sewer, or any drain or sewer connecting with a public sewer, any matter which is likely to injure the sewer or drain, to interfere with the free flow of its contents or to affect prejudicially the treatment and disposal of its contents. Any person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine or imprisonment. I consider these statutory controls to be sufficient. We would expect sewerage undertakers to take action where a problem arose and to encourage appropriate preventative measures to stop problems arising from fat and oil entering the sewers.

Fisheries

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Scottish based trawlers targeting whitefish using trawls with a minimum mesh size of 100mm have been recorded as fishing in the statistical rectangle 39E4 in the past three months.

Elliot Morley: Five Scottish based fishing vessels were recorded as targeting whitefish using trawls with a minimum mesh size of 100mm in rectangle 39E4 between 1 December 2002 and 28 February 2003.

Flood Defence

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase funding to the Environment Agency for flood defence.

Elliot Morley: The outcome of last year's spending review for Government funding of all flood and coastal defence operating authorities (Environment Agency, Local Authorities and Internal Drainage Boards) was:
	
		£ million
		
			 Year Defra ODPM 
		
		
			 2003–04 (10)114 295 
			 2004–05 129 332 
			 2005–06 154 382 
		
	
	(10) Since increased to £136 million from within Defra's overall provision
	Defra's allocation to the Environment Agency in 2003–04 for capital grants and contributions to national initiatives is £69 million. Based on all authorities' current forecasts, indicative allocations to the Agency in 2004–05 and 2005–06 are £80 million and £110 million respectively. However these indicative allocations will be subject to review in the light of updated forecasts from authorities. The ODPM funding is distributed to local authorities under the local government finance settlement and is used by them inter alia to fund the levies they pay to the Environment Agency. The levies paid to English Regions of the Agency total over £263 million in 2003–04.
	The Government have announced their intention to convert these levies into a Defra block grant, though the timing for this has yet to be finalised.

Flood Defence

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department compiles records of flood reduction projects that have received the backing of (a) local authorities and (b) private companies, but have not proceeded because they fail the Environment Agency's cost benefit analysis.

Elliot Morley: All flood and coastal defence operating authorities (the Environment Agency, local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards) have a responsibility to ensure that value for money is obtained when investing taxpayers' funding. The rules which govern public sector investment are laid down by HM Treasury, but Defra has published guidance on how these can be met for flood and coastal defences. Data are not maintained on proposed flood alleviation projects which are not economically worthwhile.

Flood Defence

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations the Environment Agency has received from groups representing local government seeking a change to the system of cost benefit analysis used in flood reduction work.

Elliot Morley: Such representations would be directed to Defra, rather than the Environment Agency, as it is this Department which provides guidance on the economic appraisal of flood and coastal defence schemes. A number of representations were received during the consultation on the Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review and these will be considered for the next review of our guidance. Any proposed changes would be subject to consultation with the industry at large, and with HM Treasury as appropriate.

Flood Defence

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 2 April 2003, Official Report, column 764W, on flood reduction, whether the Environment Agency changes the cost benefit analysis used in assessing flood reduction works when local authorities and private companies have also agreed to provide funding for the project.

Elliot Morley: As explained in my previous answer, (2 April 2003, Official Report, column 764W), it is often incorrect to deduct contributions from the cost of a flood defence project in assessing its economic viability. However, the issue needs to be considered on a case by case basis. Relevant guidance on the treatment of contributions is contained in Defra's publication, "Flood and Coastal Project Appraisal Guidance—Economic Appraisal (FCDPAG3)".

Fly-tipping

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) the average level of fine imposed on those found guilty of fly-tipping and (b) the maximum fine imposable on those found guilty of fly-tipping are; and how many people were found guilty of fly-tipping in each of the last five years.

Michael Meacher: Information is not available in the format requested as data on fly tipping prosecutions are not currently collected centrally. However, the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill currently before Parliament includes a provision which, if successful, will mean that these type of data will be recorded in the future.
	We do have some information from the Environment Agency on the cases with which it has dealt. The average level of fine imposed for waste handling offences which it has prosecuted has increased from £1,132 in 1996–97 to £3,004 in 2001–02.
	The maximum fine for those found guilty of fly tipping can be up to £20,000 and two years imprisonment for incidents involving non-hazardous waste and unlimited fines and five years imprisonment for incidents involving hazardous waste.
	The Environment Agency has data for the 1999, 2000, and 2001 calendar years, but these relate to the number of offenders prosecuted for the offence of unlawfully depositing waste as described by section 33(1 )(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Similarly, prosecution data for the 1998–99 financial year are available, but relate only to section 33 offences generally.
	Data are provided on this basis.
	Offences for breach of all of section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
	1998–99—367
	All offences under s33(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
	1999—141 (117 individuals; 24 businesses)
	2000—206 (170 individuals; 36 businesses)
	2001—225 (187 individuals; 38 businesses)
	Offences under s33(1)(a)— fly tipping only
	2002—70 (59 individuals; 11 businesses)
	2003 to date—7 (4 individuals; 3 businesses)

Fly-tipping

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the extent of fly-tipping; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: There are currently no national data available on the extent of fly-tipping, as statistics on fly tipped waste are not collected centrally. We are hoping to remedy this situation by means of a clause that has been included in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill currently before Parliament. If successful, the provision will require the Environment Agency and local authorities to submit annual data returns to the Secretary of State on the categories and quantities of fly tipped waste with which they deal.
	The Environment Agency has been operating a national incident recording system for the last two years. On the basis of its knowledge, it has estimated that there are approximately 50,000 fly-tipping incidents each year costing approximately £100 million.

Food Safety

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 644W, on food safety, whether the test techniques referred to will be the most accurate available for detecting salmonella in foodstuffs.

Elliot Morley: The test techniques referred to in the answer given on 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 644W, on food safety, do not relate to the detection of salmonella in foodstuffs. They relate to the detection of meat and bone meal and other mammalian protein in fishmeal intended for the feeding of farmed animals.
	In relation to testing for detecting salmonella in foodstuffs, the choice of technique will be dependent on many factors, with accuracy, robustness, simplicity, cost and other issues all needing to be taken into account. No one technique will be suitable for all foodstuffs, and it is incumbent on those undertaking the testing to make sure that the method they use is fit for purpose.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has conducted on using transparent polythene coverings to prevent the spread of pollen from GM crop trials; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 6 February 2003
	The Department has not conducted research on the use of transparent polythene coverings to prevent the spread of pollen from GM crop trials.
	We are not averse to polythene covering being used in GM crop trials, but if control of pollen were required, the applicant would have to demonstrate that the use of such sheeting for this purpose was effective.

Laying Hens

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to stop the use of enriched cages to house laying hens; and on what basis this decision was made.

Elliot Morley: The Government plan to review the future of enriched cages on an EU basis, when the Agriculture Council next considers the welfare of laying hens directive in 2005. By then it is hoped we will be in a stronger position to address some of the questions on the welfare concerns of enriched cages, as research programmes are completed and for any changes to apply to all EU producers, not just those in the UK, thus avoiding the associated risk of simply displacing production.
	This decision was taken after a thorough consideration of the responses to a three-month public consultation, and the available economic, scientific and veterinary evidence.

Nuclear Waste

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what savings will be made to the Government by the announcement that the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee is to be abolished; and what the reasons are for its abolition;
	(2)  how the watchdog functions in relation to the management of nuclear waste will be maintained following the abolition of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee;
	(3)  what safeguards she is putting in place to ensure that the scrutiny undertaken by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee is not compromised by its abolition.

Michael Meacher: Sponsoring Ministers are currently considering the future of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (RWMAC) in light of the establishment of the new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), that is being set up to carry forward the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme, and will announce their decision in due course. RWMAC is currently served by a secretariat of 3.5 staff and has an annual budget of the order £160,000.

Ospar Meeting

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on matters discussed at the OSPAR officials meeting held in April; and if she will place in the Library copies of papers submitted to the meeting that refer to United Kingdom policy.

Michael Meacher: During April there were three OSPAR meetings: the Hazardous Substances Committee, the Assessment and Monitoring Committee, and an ad hoc meeting on radioactive substances. These meetings considered a wide range of issues, and in particular undertook preparatory work for the annual meeting of the OSPAR Commission, which this year will be at Ministerial level, to be held in Germany in June.
	The Commission will be reviewing progress, updating the Strategies which were adopted at the last ministerial meeting in Sintra in 1998, adopting a number of specific recommendations, and adopting a declaration which will guide future work. The Commission will also meet jointly with members of the Helsinki Commission for the Baltic Sea.
	The papers considered at the April meetings—about 170 in all—were working documents, and do not yet represent the position of the Commission. When the progress reports, revised strategies, and other documents have been finalised and approved by the Commission I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House. I will also provide a statement about the outcome of the June ministerial meeting.

Part-time Workers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the Part-time Workers Directive on staff in her Department.

Alun Michael: Defra is committed to creating an environment which enables all members of staff to achieve a better work life balance. Part-time working is one of several ways in which the Department offers its staff flexibility in their working patterns. Figures for staff in post in the core Department 1 show that 11 per cent. of staff have adopted a part-time working pattern. Defra agencies and non-departmental public bodies are encouraged to take a similar approach.
	In 2002, the Department conducted a staff survey, one element of which was to compare the views of part-time workers with those of full-time staff on various aspects of working for Defra. The results of the survey will be discussed with the part-time staff network with a view to taking action where necessary. There will be follow up activity to enable us to monitor progress and identify any new issues.
	Defra has produced a race equality scheme under the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. As part of this scheme we will monitor the impact on staff in a number of key employment areas. In addition to ethnicity data, the monitoring plan will allow us to assess the impact of our employment policies and procedures on other groups, such as part-time staff.
	The Department will also conduct an Equality Audit, which will examine pay on the basis of contractual hours. This will enable an assessment of pay equality between full and part-time staff.
	1 Includes staff in the Pesticides Safety Directorate, Veterinary Laboratories and Veterinary Medicines Directorate as at 1 October 2002.

Pesticides Regulations

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received about the Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (Amendment) Regulations.

Elliot Morley: We have received no representations about the Regulations which came into force on 31 March 2003.

Pillar 2

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has further to redirect Pillar 2, CAP funding to the Rural Development Regulation; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Government has redirected, and match funded, a proportion of production linked subsidy payments into rural development measures since 2001. In the current negotiations on CAP reform we are pressing for both a shift in support from production-linked subsidies to environmental and rural development measures and a significant increase in the UK's share of current EU funding for rural development programmes. We are committed to increasing expenditure on the England Rural Development Programme. The detailed arrangements for delivering this commitment will depend on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations on the reform of the CAP.

Prions (Diagnostic Tests)

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to assess the new diagnostic test for prions.

Elliot Morley: Five rapid tests for the post-mortem detection of BSE have been evaluated by the EU Commission and are considered appropriate for use as screening tests for cattle. The most recent of these, one from Switzerland and one from the USA, were published by the Commission at the end of 2002. Defra is aware of these assessments and will be guided by them in BSE control programmes. I presume that the question refers to one of these methods.
	Scientists at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency are also engaged in trials of modifications of these and other methods to assess their potential to differentiate between BSE and scrapie. This is being done in collaboration with European and American scientists. In addition, the development of a BSE test for use in live animals is a longstanding Defra priority. Scientific staff monitor both national and global developments and are involved in the collaborative evaluation of a range of tests at different stages of development. Thorough evaluation of performance is required before tests can be used for statutory purposes.

Renewable Energy Crops

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for allowing renewable energy crops to be grown on set-aside land; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 6 May 2003
	The original CAP reform proposals introduced the concept of a decoupled single income payment, designed to bring markets into better balance and take away incentives for over-production. Energy crops would be eligible for a 'carbon credit' aid of £45 per hectare, capped at 1.5 million hectares across the EU. Compulsory set-aside would have been retained, but the existing derogation to allow non-food, including energy crops, to be grown on it would be removed. We consider that the combination of decoupling together with a further cereals price cut removes the need for land to be taken out of production and placed in set-aside.
	The European Commission have indicated that they may be prepared to make some changes to their original proposal on set-aside, including allowing continued access for non-food crops. Our view is that if set-aside is to continue, it must be applied in a flexible way which maximises its potential benefits.

Sustainable Development

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals are being put by the United Kingdom to the 11th session of the United Nations Commission on sustainable development in New York; what ministerial level meetings are being held; and if she will place in the Library documents submitted to the 11th session of UNCSD relevant to United Kingdom policy.

Michael Meacher: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State attended the High Level Ministerial Segment of the eleventh session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD11) in New York on 28–30 April 2003.
	She stressed in particular the importance of the Doha Development Round and the contribution that agricultural subsidy reform can make to Sustainable development, and highlighted the UK proposal for an International Finance Facility (IFF) which would double aid to the poorest countries to $100billion a year up to 2015.
	The UK helped prepare a number of EU statements and papers: copies will be placed in the Library.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State also held bilaterals in the margins with Mohammed Valli Moosa (Chair of CSD and South African Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism), Louise Frechette (UN Deputy Secretary General), Mark Malloch Brown (UNDP), Paula Dobriansky (US Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs), Ronnie Kasrils (South African Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry), David Kemp (Australian Minister for the Environment), Shri T R Baalu (Indian Minister of the Environment and Forests), Marina Silva (Brazilian Minister of the Environment), Pieter Val Geel (Dutch Minister of Housing, Spatial Policy and Environment and Housing), David Anderson (Canadian Minister of the Environment) and Mohamed El Yazghi (Moroccan Minister of Country Planning, Water Resources and Environment).

Sustainable Development

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whom she plans to appoint to chair the Trade Union Advisory Committee on Sustainable Development.

Michael Meacher: The Trade Union Advisory Committee on Sustainable Development is currently chaired jointly by myself and John Edmonds, General Secretary of the GMB Union. Mr. Edmonds will be stepping down as co-chair at the next meeting of TUSDAC on 2 July. It is our intention that action to appoint a new co-chair should be completed in time for that meeting.

TB (Badgers)

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the incidence of TB in badgers was in (a) England and Wales and (b) the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: Since 1998, collection of data about the incidence of TB in badgers has been collected only from the randomised badger culling trial (the "Krebs" trial) and from the road traffic accident survey taking place in seven counties (Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Dorset). Data from both will be analysed by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG).
	It is a fundamental principle of scientific trials that data must not be released prematurely since that could compromise the subsequent integrity of the trials. The ISG expressed concern in its second report that no data should be released from the field trial and related research which could discourage farmers' willingness to participate in the trial, or encourage either illegal killing of badgers or interference with trial operations. For this reason, they recommended that a narrow band of data (including the prevalence of TB in badgers caught in the trial) should not be disclosed. The ISG has asserted and reinforced the need for total confidentiality of these data until such time as they can be safely released with a considered analysis.

Telephone Helplines

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 97W, on telephone helplines, how many calls were made to each helpline charged at national rate in the last year for which records are available; and what the average duration was of these calls.

Alun Michael: Detailed information of this kind is only available for some of the telephone helplines covered by my previous answer.
	For three of the national rate helplines operated by the Rural Payments Agency, during the year April 2002 to March 2003 some 54,000 calls were received with the majority of calls having durations of between 1 and 2.25 minutes.
	The Pets helpline (also charged at national rate) averages some 6,700 national rate calls per month with typical duration estimated as 10–15 minutes.
	Corresponding information could be obtained for the other helplines covered in my previous answer only at a disproportionate cost.

Varroa Mites

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of varroa mites her Department has identified, broken down by county.

Elliot Morley: Since the establishment of Defra in June 2001, there have been a total of 94 new varroa infested apiaries reported to the Central Science Laboratory's National Bee Unit. The data are broken down by county in the table.
	
		New apiaries found infested with varroa since June 2001
		
			 County 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Avon   1 
			 Bedfordshire  1 1 
			 Berkshire  1 1 
			 Buckinghamshire  2 2 
			 Cheshire  1 1 
			 Cornwall  1  
			 Cumbria 2 4 1 
			 Derbyshire
			 Devon 1 2 2 
			 Durham 1 1  
			 East Sussex  1 1 
			 Gloucestershire  1  
			 Greater London  2 3 
			 Hampshire   1 
			 Hereford and Worcs  6 1 
			 Hertfordshire  1  
			 Lancashire   2 
			 Lincolnshire  1  
			 Norfolk  2 1 
			 North Yorkshire 1 3 3 
			 Northumberland 1 18  
			 Nottinghamshire  1  
			 Shropshire  1  
			 Somerset  2  
			 South Yorkshire  1  
			 Staffordshire   1 
			 Suffolk  1 1 
			 Tyne & Wear  1  
			 West Sussex  2 1 
			 Wiltshire  1 1 
			 Wales  1 1 
			 Gwynedd  2  
			 Total 6 61 27

Varroa Mites

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has undertaken to combat varroa mites.

Elliot Morley: The Government have funded a number of research projects to combat the varroa mite since it was first discovered in the UK. Currently, Defra is funding a 3-year project that extends an earlier MAFF-funded investigation by Horticulture Research International (HRI) on the use of entomopathogenic fungi as a biological control of varroa. HRI is undertaking this project in collaboration with IACR Rothamsted. It is due to terminate in 2005 and is expected to cost some £323,000.

Varroa Mites

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what action she has taken to deal with the threat from varroa mites; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what action she and her European Union counterparts have taken to deal with varroa mites.

Elliot Morley: Varroa has been the most significant threat to UK beekeeping since it was first detected in Devon in 1992. Defra funds a programme of bee health measures to assist the beekeeping sector, the cost of which was around £1.3 million in 2002–03. Under these measures, the National Bee Unit (NBU), part of the Central Science Laboratory, provides a free diagnostic and inspection service to beekeepers in England as well as training and technical advice to help them become more self-reliant through improved bee husbandry. In addition, the NBU has been carrying out routine screening throughout England and Wales for varroa mites that are resistant to authorised treatments, having first detected them in August 2001. To date, resistance remains isolated to certain areas of Devon and Cornwall. However, the NBU's advice to beekeepers is to remain alert to the threat of further spread and to report any suspected cases to them.
	At EU level, Council Regulation (EC) No. 1221–97 provides for member states to assist the beekeeping sector to improve the production and marketing of honey by alleviating the burden placed on it by varroa. The EU reimburses up to 50 per cent. of Member States' expenditure on certain beekeeping measures. In the past year, the UK has received £324,000 under these measures for approved actions taken to combat varroa. The main thrust of most member states' programmes is, like the UK, to support the control of varroa through technical advice, the provision of diagnostic services and R&D.

Woodpigeons

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what facilities are available for controlling woodpigeons.

Elliot Morley: The control of certain birds, including woodpigeons, is permitted under a series of general licences issued by my Department. This system, first introduced in 1992, offers a practical and easily understood method of control of certain bird species and ensures that birds are killed or taken by certain methods only, with the minimum of distress to the birds.
	Control of birds under the general licences has generally worked well, however a recent High Court judgment has illustrated that there may be areas where review of the general licences would be useful. Officials will consult stakeholders shortly and revise the licences where changes are considered necessary.
	Copies of the general licences can be found on the Defra website.

DEFENCE

Civil Service (People with Disabilities)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in the Department.

Lewis Moonie: Currently, approximately 1 per cent. of the senior civil service in the Ministry of Defence have declared themselves disabled. Statistics on disability are collected through voluntary self-declaration.
	As part of our wider personnel strategy, our personnel policies and practices are equality proofed to ensure that there are no barriers for disabled staff who aspire to the senior civil service, and we would encourage them to apply. In addition, the Ministry of Defence provides funding to enable disabled staff who have the potential to reach the senior civil service to participate in the civil service disability bursary scheme. Funding provides for two years of high quality management training together with mentoring opportunities.
	A number of senior posts are filled through open competition as fixed term appointments. Advertisements for these vacancies would normally carry the caption: "The Ministry of Defence is an equal opportunities employer" and stress the point that applications from people with disabilities are particularly welcome. The advertisements also carry the two-ticks "positive about disability" symbol and the Department is committed to offering all candidates who declare a disability a guaranteed interview where they meet the minimum qualifying criteria. We are currently trialling the use of specialist recruitment consultants to help to publicise open competitions to disabled potential applicants.

Cluster Bombs

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the number of (a) RBL 755 cluster bombs dropped on targets within Iraq and (b) L20 cluster shells fired by UK forces around Basra.

Geoff Hoon: The figures requested have not changed since the responses I gave to the hon. Member on 14 April 2003, Official Report, column 566W.

Cluster Bombs

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cluster munitions have been used in the war on Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: As at 29 April 2003, British forces have used in the region of 66 air delivered cluster bombs and in the region of 2,000 extended range bomblet shells in Iraq.

Colin Davenport

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the terms are of the retirement of Mr. Colin Davenport.

Lewis Moonie: Mr Davenport retired under the usual terms that apply to the Senior Civil Service, having reached the normal retirement age of 60.

Homecoming Parades

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he uses to decide whether to arrange for official homecoming and victory parades following conflicts involving UK troops.

Lewis Moonie: There are no set criteria for deciding when a homecoming or victory parade is appropriate. By the nature of the operations which they are designed to commemorate the opportunities are few and far between and each case is therefore considered carefully in the light of the prevailing circumstances.

Hospital Units

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) military establishment and (b) strength is of each Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit.

Lewis Moonie: The military establishment and strength of each Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit as at 10 April 2003 was as follows:
	
		
			 Unit Establishment Strength 
		
		
			 Derriford 190 151 
			 Frimley Park 278 185 
			 Northallerton 167 146 
			 Peterborough 197 162 
			 Portsmouth(11) 797 599 
		
	
	(11) Royal Hospital Haslar and Queen Alexandra Hospital combined.

Iraq

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of aid to Iraq he estimates will arrive via Umm Qasr in April.

Adam Ingram: Umm Qasr is one of several routes by which aid has entered and will continue to enter Iraq (including by land from Jordan and Kuwait). We do not record the amount of aid entering Iraq by non-United Kingdom Government Agencies so we cannot calculate the respective shares of the total. Once Umm Qasr is open to shipping we expect the proportion of aid entering Iraq by sea to rise significantly, since the rail links from the port to the rest of the country make it a particularly efficient way of handling bulk supplies of aid.

Iraq

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Government of Niger concerning the alleged sale of 500 pounds of uranium to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: None.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why British hospital ships were (a) withdrawn from the Gulf area and (b) not made available for injured Iraqi civilians.

Lewis Moonie: The vast majority of injured Iraqi civilians have been treated at Iraqi hospitals and, in the United Kingdom's area of operations, we have made every effort to restore power, water and medical supplies to those facilities. Where necessary, Iraqis have been treated at UK medical facilities. Where appropriate medical facilities were not available in theatre, Iraqi civilians have been airlifted to UK hospitals for treatment.
	RFA Argus, with a 100-bed capacity, made an important contribution to the campaign. However, the ship and her crew have completed their task and are thus returning from theatre. The following UK medical assets remain in theatre:
	1 Close Support Medical Regiment—(1 (UK) Armoured Division)
	5 General Support Medical Regiment—(1 (UK) Armoured Division)
	16 Close Support Medical Regiment—(16 Air Assault Brigade)
	4 General Support Medical Regiment—(102 Logistics Brigade)
	34 Field Hospital—(102 Logistics Brigade)
	202 (Volunteer) Field Hospital—(Reserves)

Iraq

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many territorial army troops were sent to the Gulf during the last four months.

Lewis Moonie: As at 30 April, 3,434 members of the Territorial Army have deployed to the Gulf during the last four months.

Iraq

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what field hospitals remain in the Gulf region.

Lewis Moonie: The United Kingdom currently has two field hospitals in the Gulf region. These are 34 Field Hospital, based at Shaibah in southern Iraq, and 202 Field Hospital (V) in northern Kuwait.

Royal Irish Regiment

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of the Royal Irish Regiment.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Irish Regiment comprises three Home Service Battalions, the General Service Battalion which has been serving in Iraq, and a TA Battalion.
	Until there is agreement on security normalisation in Northern Ireland, it would be premature to come to any conclusions on the final composition of the Northern Ireland garrison. Current planning is only addressing the implications of security normalisation for the Home Service battalions. The role of the Home Service element is Military Aid to the Civil Power; as the security environment improves we expect the need for this role will decline.

Secondments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals have been seconded to his Department from (a) the private sector, (b) NGOs and (c) other, in each case listing (i) from which organisation and (ii) dates of secondments, in each year since 1997–98.

Lewis Moonie: Information available on personnel seconded to my Department is as follows.
	
		
			 Parent company or organisation Start date End date 
		
		
			  Inward secondments financial year 1997–98 
			 Vickers April 1997 April 1998 
			 Vosper Thorneycroft April 1997 April 1998 
			 Rolls Royce December 1997 December 1999 
			 POSG Support Services January 1998 January 1999 
			 British Aerospace March 1998 April 2001 
			
			 Kent Probation Service March 1998 March 2003 
			
			  Inward secondments financial year 1998–99 
			 British Aerospace May 1998 December 1999 
			 Devonport Management Ltd. August 1998 August 2000 
			 Simmons & Simmons September 1998 August 1999 
			 Wragg & Co. September 1998 March 2000 
			 PA Consulting Group September 1998 August 1999 
			 City & Hackney Community Service NHS Trust October 1998 October 1999 
			 Gardiner & Theobalds December 1998 December 1999 
			 TI Group December 1998 November 2001 
			 AWE plc December 1998 March 2002 
			 British Aerospace January 1999 January 2001 
			 UK Smart Procurement February 1999 February 2000 
			 BNFL March 1999 March 2000 
			
			 West Yorks Probation Service January 1999 January 2004 
			
			  Inward secondments financial year 1999–2000 
			 Defence Acquisition Group April 1999 August 1999 
			 Dibb, Lupton Alsop April 1999 April 2000 
			 British Aerospace August 1999 July 2001 
			 Price Waterhouse Coopers October 1999 October 2000 
			 Marconi Electonic Systems (Avionics Group) November 1999 November 2001 
			 British Aerospace November 1999 October 2001 
			 GEC Marconi January 2000 March 2001 
			 GKN Westlands February 2000 February 2003 
			 Thomson Marconi Sonar Ltd. March 2000 September 2000 
			 BMT Defence Services March 2000 September 2000 
			 NNC March 2000 September 2000 
			
			 MayDay NHS Trust December 1999 June 2003 
			
			  Inward secondments financial year 2000–01 
			 BAE Systems April 2000 October 2000 
			 Addleshaw Booth & Co. May 2000 April 2001 
			 UK Smart Procurement June 2000 June 2002 
			 BAE Systems June 2000 June 2001 
			 AXA Corporate Solutions August 2000 January 2001 
			 BAE Systems August 2000 March 2001 
			 AXA plc August 2000 March 2001 
			 BAE Systems September 2000 March 2001 
			 BAE Systems September 2000 September 2002 
			 BAE September 2000 March 2001 
			 Babtie Group October 2000 June 2001 
			 Price Waterhouse October 2000 October 2001 
			 BAE Systems November 2000 November 2003 
			 URS Ltd. November 2000 April 2001 
			 BAE December 2000 December 2003 
			 BAE Systems February 2001 September 2003 
			 Ernst & Young February 2001 February 2002 
			 Rolls-Royce March 2001 March 2003 
			
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust May 2000 May 2001 
			
			  Inward secondments financial year 2001–02 
			 QinetiQ June 2001 July 2003 
			 QinetiQ July 2001 March 2003 
			 QinetiQ July 2001 July 2003 
			 Burges Salmon September 2001 April 2002 
			 BAE October 2001 October 2003 
			 Ernst & Young October 2001 August 2002 
			 Mass Consultants February 2002 February 2006 
			 Mass Consultants Ltd. March 2002 March 2006 
			 AMS UK March 2002 March 2004 
			 Hagglunds Vehicle AB, Sweden March 2002 January 2004 
			
			 Hertfordshire Probation Service June 2001 January 2002 
			 Suffolk Probation Service June 2001 November 2001 
			 Manchester Probation Service June 2001 December 2001 
			
			  Inward secondments financial year 2002–03 
			 Wragg & Co. June 2002 March 2003 
			 BAE June 2002 June 2004 
			 Rolls-Royce July 2002 July 2005 
			 Price Waterhouse August 2002 August 2003 
			 British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. September 2002 September 2005 
			 BAES September 2002 September 2005 
			 BAE Systems October 2002 October 2004 
			 BAES November 2002 February 2004 
			 BAE Systems November 2002 May 2003 
			 BAE Systems November 2002 November 2003 
			 BAE Systems January 2003 December 2004 
			
			 Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust May 2002 May 2004 
			 Service Children's Education August 2002 July 2003 
			 Service Children's Education August 2002 July 2003 
			 Admiralty Pilotage & Harbour Service October 2002 October 2004 
			 West Midlands Health Authority November 2002 March 2003

Servicemen's Insurance

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that the procurement process for the replacement schemes for PAX and RPAX do not penalise regulars and reservists deployed within the 30 day 'exclusion period' applied by many insurers at times of conflict.

Lewis Moonie: Exclusion periods enable underwriters to protect themselves from excessive risks by closing schemes to new applicants. Most insurance contracts contain arrangements for exclusion periods, which may often be applied retrospectively by up to 30 days, as is the case with the current PAX and RPAX policies.
	These arrangements protect the scheme against those seeking short-term cover at the last minute and helps keep premiums affordable for prudent long-term members. Consequently it is planned that the replacement PAX and RPAX contract, which will come into effect on 1 July 2003, will continue to contain such arrangements.
	We encourage service personnel to recognise the long-term nature of life insurance throughout their service and not just at times of more active duty—when they may seek cover too late, just as schemes are withdrawn.

WALES

Commemorative Plaques

Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average cost was of erecting a blue commemorative plaque in the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: My Department does not erect blue plaques.

Commemorative Plaques

Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many blue commemorative plaques were erected in each of the last five years; and, for each year, what the cost was to public funds; and (2) what the policy criteria are for the erection of blue plaques to commemorate distinguished citizens in their native localities.

Peter Hain: My Department has no responsibility for the blue plaque scheme.

Commemorative Plaques

Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who (a) sets the criteria of selection and (b) is responsible for the erection of blue commemorative plaques.

Peter Hain: There is no central blue plaque scheme in Wales. However CADW Welsh Historic Monuments operate the Civic Initiatives—Heritage Grant Scheme under which voluntary organisations could apply for support in erecting plaques.

EU Directives

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the EU Directives or Regulations which have been implemented by his Department since 17 April 2002.

Peter Hain: My Department has not implemented any EU Directives or Regulations since 17 April 2002.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in his Department have received honours; and how many honours are held by his officials, broken down by category of honour.

Peter Hain: None.

Rail Services

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his answer of 2 April, Official Report, column 733W, on rail services, if he will make a statement on the (a) scope and (b) outcome of his recent meeting with the Strategic Rail Authority and Wales and Borders Railways.

Peter Hain: The meeting formed part of an ongoing dialogue with the Strategic Rail Authority and with train operating companies about rail services in Wales and plans for the future.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Adventure Playgrounds

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the role of adventure playgrounds in reducing anti-social behaviour; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Good quality play opportunities can have a significant impact on children and young people, their families and the wider community. The wider benefits of effective play provision can include a reduction in crime—it can ensure children and young people are enjoying themselves and are therefore engaged in activities which do not lead them to antisocial behaviour.
	No formal assessment of the role of adventure playgrounds has been carried out by my Department, but we in partnership with DfES are conducting a review of Children's Play which will report in the summer. This will identify how funding for children's play can be spent most effectively.

Archaeology

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with English Heritage on (a) the arrangements for tendering archaeological work to accompany a major development and (b) the quality and expertise of the teams carrying out such work.

Kim Howells: The Department has not held discussions with English Heritage on arrangements for tendering or the expertise of people and organisations carrying out such work. Planning permission for major development works is granted by the relevant local authority. It is for local authority archaeological officers to approve plans to carry out archaeological work associated with major developments to the appropriate standards, including approval of a specification which would include the competence and experience of those undertaking the work.

Buckmore Park Scout Centre

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with Sport England regarding the closure of Buckmore Park scout centre; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I understand that Sport England has been involved in discussions with all the interested parties in an attempt to ensure that the centre continues in operation. An action plan was agreed by all the parties which set out a series of steps to be completed. Once these have been done, Sport England believes that it will be possible to progress new arrangements for the management of the centre.

Cultural Activities

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps are being taken to evaluate strategies for promoting participation in art and cultural activities in schools and communities.

Richard Caborn: The Government have already exceeded their target of establishing 12 creative partnerships between schools and creative organisations, by 2004. The National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) is conducting a major evaluation of the creative partnerships programme and will publish its findings in spring 2005. The Government's target to increase the number of people in communities experiencing the arts will be evaluated through Arts Council attendance surveys, due to be completed by March 2004. Findings from these surveys will be compared with baseline data from a pilot survey, carried out in 2001.

Film Tax Relief

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list (a) the films which have been certified by her Department since 1997 as a qualifying film for film tax relief, (b) the film production companies which have received film tax relief since 1997 and (c) how much film tax relief has been granted in each year since 1997.

Kim Howells: DCMS certifies qualifying films as British under the terms of the Films Act 1985. Those certificates may be used in support of a claim for tax relief on the films to which they relate. Claims for tax relief are made to the Inland Revenue and I am unable to provide details for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality.
	I am arranging for the list of qualifying films for the period from 1997 to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Film production benefits from a number of tax reliefs that accelerate the deduction of expenditure on British qualifying films. The estimated tax cost of relief provided under Section 48 of the Finance (No.2) Act 1997 is £440 million for the period 1997–98 to 2001–02. The tax cost of the other reliefs is estimated to be an additional £70 million a year.

Great British Kitchen

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support has been requested from her Department for the establishment of a national visitor attraction within the proposed Great British Kitchen development at Stafford.

Kim Howells: The Department is not aware of any direct requests for financial assistance to support the Great British Kitchen development. However, I am aware that there have been a number of meetings between officials at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the British Food Trust to discuss this project.

Iraq (Cultural Heritage)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to ensure the identification and return of antiquities and cultural artefacts looted from Iraq.

Tessa Jowell: The current UN sanction requires State Parties to the UN to impose import controls on objects from Iraq, including antiquities. We welcome UNESCO's announcement that they will be proposing to the UN a continuing selective embargo on the movement of Iraqi cultural property so that there should be no diminution of control over the import of Iraqi cultural property. This is clearly an option, and we are very supportive of this aim.
	Last year the UK acceded to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Irrespective of whether UN sanctions are lifted, since these objects have been stolen from Iraqi museums, the UK now has an obligation to prevent their import and assist the legitimate authorities in Iraq to secure their return.
	I have written to the British Art Market Federation and to the Antiquities Dealers Association to ask for their assistance in locating and identifying looted material should it surface on the legitimate market in the UK (despite the existence of a ban on the import of such material).
	The legitimate art market will be helped by the announcement on 29 April that UNESCO intend to establish a database of items believed to have been stolen. We will work closely with UNESCO to ensure that this database is as comprehensive as possible. We also welcome and support the swift response of the UK and international heritage sector to circulate the identity of antiquities looted from Iraqi museums, including the posting on its website by the Art Newspaper of details of more than 300 of the most prominent objects from the collection of the Baghdad Museum, and the plans announced on 29 April by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to issue on the world wide web a fully illustrated Red List of the hundred most important antiquities looted from the Baghdad Museum.
	I have also written to my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey), Economic Secretary to the Treasury, to ask him to alert Customs officers at all ports of entry in locating and identifying any Iraqi antiquities, with a view to prosecuting those who attempt to breach the import controls.

Iraq (Cultural Heritage)

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many illegally obtained objects of Iraqi cultural heritage, broken down by type, have been found entering the United Kingdom since 9 April.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	From 9 April 2003 to date Customs have not detected any illegally obtained objects of Iraqi cultural heritage entering the UK.

Iraq (Cultural Heritage)

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps she has taken to secure a ban in the international trade in objects of Iraqi cultural heritage;
	(2)  what measures are in place to deal with the illicit trade of objects of Iraqi cultural heritage;
	(3)  what steps she is taking to encourage the return of cultural objects stolen or illicitly exported from Iraq.

Tessa Jowell: The current UN sanction requires state parties to the UN to impose import controls on objects from Iraq, including antiquities. The current ban on the import of antiquities from Iraq means that such antiquities can be seized if there is an attempt to import them illegally. However, there is a concern that when UN sanctions are lifted there should be no diminution of control over the import of Iraqi cultural property. UNESCO have announced that they will be proposing to the UN a continuing selective embargo on the movement of Iraqi cultural property. This is clearly an option, and we are very supportive of this aim.
	Last year the UK acceded to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Irrespective of whether UN sanctions are lifted, since these objects have been stolen from Iraqi museums, the UK now has an obligation to prevent their import and assist the legitimate authorities in Iraq to secure their return.
	We fully support the Private Member's Bill, which will make it illegal in this country to trade dishonestly in cultural objects unlawfully removed from another country. The Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Bill has both cross-party and cross-sectoral support among the UK art trade and heritage community. The Bill is due to go into Committee on 14 May and we shall be discussing with parliamentary business managers how best to progress the Bill through its remaining stages as fast as possible.
	I have written to my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey), Economic Secretary to the Treasury, to ask him to alert customs officers at all ports of entry in locating and identifying any Iraqi antiquities, with a view to prosecuting those who attempt to breach the import controls.
	I have also written to the British Art Market Federation and to the Antiquities Dealers Association to ask for their assistance in locating and identifying looted material should it surface on the legitimate market in the UK (despite the existence of a ban on the import of such material).
	The legitimate art market will be helped by the announcement on 29 April that UNESCO intend to establish a database of items believed to have been stolen. We will work closely with UNESCO to ensure that this database is as comprehensive as possible.

Iraq (Cultural Heritage)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she received, from whom and when, between 1 January and 20 April, regarding the threat of looting of antiquities in Iraq; what her response was; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 1 May 2003
	I have received and responded to letters from the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works on 8 April and the Society of Antiquaries of London on 13 April concerning the protection of Iraq's cultural heritage. I have also received copies of letters from ICOMOS sent on 13 March addressed to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Ministers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	The Coalition consulted widely before the commencement of the military campaign on the risks to ancient historical and archaeological sites. We have stressed our commitment to protecting such sites. We want to protect resources for all Iraqis and will take what measures are necessary to do this.

PRIME MINISTER

Asylum Seekers

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 29 January 2003, Official Report, column 875, on reducing the number of asylum applications, whether the Government have decided fundamentally to look at the UK's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Tony Blair: As I said in the House on 29 January 2003, if measures that we have introduced do not dramatically reduce the number of asylum applications, we are prepared to go further, including fundamentally looking at our obligations under the European convention on human rights. I remain confident that current measures will halve the intake by September 2003.
	We also continue to work with the UNHCR and others to make the Refugee Convention operate more effectively. The Home Secretary presented the United Kingdom's ideas for new international approaches to asylum processing and refugee protection to his EU counterparts on 28 March 2003. This international work is complemented by domestic measures which provide protection to those who need it but deal robustly with abusive claims.

Russian Federation

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if, during his meeting with President Putin of Russia on 29 April 2003, he raised the issue of the assistance the United Kingdom is providing to the Russian Federation to manage its surplus military plutonium stockpile.

Tony Blair: My talks with President Putin focused on Iraq, the importance of rebuilding the international consensus and working together with Russia and others to deal with the humanitarian and reconstruction issues as well as the need to transfer authority to the Iraqi people as quickly as possible. The issue was not raised.

Security

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister how many documents are held by his office that are subject to security classification, broken down by category of classification.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office gave him today.

Telephone Tapping

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Wilson doctrine applying to tapping the telephones of hon. Members includes Members who have not taken the Oath.

Tony Blair: The position is as I informed the House on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 367W, and confirmed last Wednesday, 30 April 2003 in an oral reply. The then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, Lord Bassam, confirmed on 27 September 2000, Official Report, column 137W, that this policy extended to Members of the House of Lords. It applies to all Members of Parliament.
	With this long-standing exception in relation to Members of Parliament, it remains the normal policy of the Government neither to confirm nor deny allegations in respect of interception matters.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Civil Service (People with Disabilities)

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in the Department.

John Reid: The Privy Council Office is fully committed to working towards increasing the numbers of staff with disabilities in all levels, including senior management, although as a small department these posts are limited.
	The Department's recruitment of senior posts ensures that Civil Service rules were followed and that the appointments were made on the basis of fair and open competition.
	Future vacancies at this level will be advertised using current best practice to attract staff with disabilities and others from under represented groups.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Iraq

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on debt relief for Iraq.

Clare Short: Iraq has a serious debt problem as well as considerable compensation claims. We support the IMF's efforts to assess Iraq's economic needs. We also welcome the recent announcement by the Paris Club that they stand ready to engage. As a first step, Paris Club creditors, including the UK, have agreed to carry out a comprehensive assessment of Iraq's debts. They will review debt sustainability further in the coming months.

Iraq

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on delivering humanitarian aid to Iraq.

Sally Keeble: My Department has had regular discussions with EU colleagues at official and ministerial level to talk about humanitarian aid to Iraq. The EU is providing 100 million euros of emergency aid.

Iraq

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on reconstruction in Iraq.

Clare Short: The Geneva Convention and the Hague Regulations impose obligations on occupying powers to provide for humanitarian needs, keep order and to keep the civil administration operating. The Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) has a leading responsibility for the fulfilment of these requirements.
	Once there is a UN mandate for reconstruction the UK, the international community and in particular the international financial institutions will be able to engage in reconstruction needs in Iraq. World bank and International Monetary Fund economic and social needs assessments will begin in the coming weeks. Our engagement will reflect the needs highlighted in these assessments.

Iraq

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian relief programme in Iraq.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Fife (Mr. MacDougall) earlier today (PQ 111519).

Iraq

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to her answers of 27 March 2003, Official Report, columns 353–54W, on broadcasting and cultural services, what measures she is taking to reconstruct (a) broadcasting and (b) cultural services in Iraq.

Clare Short: As I said on 27 March 2003, a UN mandate for reconstruction is a legal requirement for UK involvement in significant reform of Iraqi institutions. Iraq's reconstruction needs will be substantial and it is too soon to determine specific allocations.
	In the interim, we are supporting the BBC's World Service Trust which broadcasts an Arabic language programme, entitled 'Calling Iraq', from Cyprus. The programme focuses on humanitarian issues such as food, health, water and education.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has carried out of whether schemes similar to UNTAC's Operation Paymaster could be implemented in an interim Administration in Iraq;
	(2)  whether the Government (a) are partly to and (b) have been involved in negotiations to ensure that the wages of civil servants are guaranteed in an interim Administration established in Iraq.

Clare Short: DFID has made no assessment of whether a scheme similar to UNTAC's Operation Paymaster could be implemented in an interim Iraqi Administration.
	The Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) is currently paying some Iraqi public sector workers to keep the civil Administration running. ORHA and others are currently reviewing the most appropriate manner in which to pay public sector workers and hope to implement a sustainable and equitable system nationwide as soon as possible.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the needs of Iraq's civil servants in order to establish a working civil service in the country.

Clare Short: The Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) and the military, are currently assessing the needs of Iraq's civil servants and how best to get Iraq's Administration back up and running.

Iraq

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to ensure the involvement of women and women's groups in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Clare Short: DFID will strive to ensure women are included in all phases and levels of reconstruction in Iraq. We must help Iraqi women to secure the gains they have achieved and ensure that women's rights are a central part of Iraq's post-war agenda. We are discussing these issues with our partners, including the UN.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made on the incidences of (a) cholera and (b) other diseases related to polluted water sources in Iraqi cities following the invasions of Iraq.

Clare Short: On 27 April 2003, the UN Office of the Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq (UNOHCI) reported that the health situation in Iraq in general was stable. The number of diarrhoea cases was within normally expected limits.
	On 6 May 2003, the World Health Organisation reported seven cases of cholera in Basra and is monitoring the situation.
	Most agency assessments are available from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) website at: www.agoodplacetostart.org

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of how long existing food stocks will last without replenishment in (a) northern, (b) central and (c) southern Iraq.

Clare Short: World Food Programme (WFP) reports indicate that the amount of food distributed by the Oil for Food Programme (OFF) prior to the start of the conflict varies by region. WFP is currently in discussion with Iraq's Ministry of Trade and OFF Public Distribution System officials to ascertain the levels of food pre-positioned at local level.
	WFP estimates that existing family food stocks could begin running out soon. The WFP has pipeline stocks for May and June 2003, although there are shortages of some commodities. On 24 April 2003, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to extend provisions of resolution 1472 from 12 May until 3 June 2003. This enables the UN to process those existing orders under the Oil for Food (OFF) programme which can be dispatched to Iraq by 3 June 2003. Outside of OFF, WFP are also procuring some foodstuffs from the region. They are aiming to build up supplies similar to those previously supplied by the Oil for Food Programme (480,000 tonnes of food per month) as soon as possible. Meanwhile, food continues to be distributed through the OFF Public Distribution System wherever possible.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is her policy that Iraqi money held in United Nations Accounts should be used to help cover the operational costs and administrative expenses of the new food distribution programme in Iraq; and whether she plans to cap these costs.

Clare Short: It will be important to get food distribution re-established as soon as possible. 16 million Iraqis depended on the Oil for Food Programme before the conflict. We are working with the UN's Office of the Iraq Programme (OIP) and the World Food Programme (WFP) to achieve this.
	On 24 April 2003, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to extend provisions of resolution 1472 from 12 May until 3 June 2003. This enables the UN to process those existing orders under the Oil for Food (OFF) programme, which can be dispatched to Iraq by 3 June 2003. UNSCR 1472 permits use of UN escrow account funds for some operational aspects of OFF.
	Early indications suggest that the distribution network has, in those provinces that have been assessed, survived the conflict. It has been reported that many food agents want to resume work and have been reporting to distribution centres. The WFP and OIP, in conjunction with the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, are investigating how best to reactivate the OFF public distribution system.

Coffee Farmers

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to coffee farmers who face poverty as a result of the collapse of coffee prices.

Clare Short: We have development programmes in several coffee producing countries. These include Ethiopia, Rwanda, Nicaragua, Uganda and Guatemala. The problem for coffee growers is oversupply of coffee which has lead to a large fall in prices. Poor countries and people who are dependent on coffee production need short-term support and also longer-term support for economic diversification which would be helped by improved trade access for processed goods.

Sudan

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role her Department is playing in the de-mining operations in Sudan.

Clare Short: DFID has provided £1.4 million for mine action in Sudan over the last year. This support was given through the UN Mine Action Service for mine clearance in the Nuba Mountains region, where there is a ceasefire, and to prepare for further mine action throughout Sudan.

Environmental Impacts

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she takes to ensure that aid monies allocated have a positive or neutral environmental consequence.

Clare Short: All DFID programmes promote sustainable development through poverty reduction. We have mandatory procedures to ensure that environmental opportunities and risks are taken account of—and these have recently been strengthened by new guidance for DFID staff to emphasise environmental opportunities.
	We have a growing team of environment staff who work with our country partners to integrate environmental issues into Poverty Reduction Strategies, which form the basis for DFID support in low-income countries.

Afghanistan

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Clare Short: The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has improved compared to the situation last year, and is no longer an emergency. This is due both to an increased crop yield (up 80 per cent. on the previous year) and to much better snow and rainfall over the winter in both the north and south of the country, which has eased the effects of the persistent drought. Refugees are continuing to return to the country, aided by UNHCR and the Ministry for Refugees and Repatriation, although at a slower rate than last year. Vulnerable households, such as women-headed households, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and disabled people continue to require assistance.
	Insecurity in the provinces outside Kabul continues to be a concern, and is hampering the operations of NGOs and UN agencies in the southern and eastern provinces. As part of a co-ordinated response with the Afghan Transitional Administration and other international partners the UK Government are considering the deployment of a Provincial Reconstruction Team to one of the provinces outside Kabul. The Ministry of Defence will make a full parliamentary statement on any deployment in due course.

Afghanistan

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the money for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, promised at the Tokyo conference, has found its way to Afghanistan.

Clare Short: US$4.5 billion was pledged by donors at the Tokyo conference in January 2002 over a period of between one and five years, depending on the donor. US$1.8 billion was disbursed last year to Afghanistan. A similar amount has been pledged for the current financial year.
	Donors such as the US, who had only made one year pledges at the Tokyo conference, used the Afghan Development Forum held in March 2003 to make new pledges. The total pledged now stands at US$5.2 billion.

Tanzania

George Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she next expects to visit Tanzania to discuss international aid.

Clare Short: Following my meetings with President Mkapa last July and subsequent progress, I have no current plans to visit Tanzania over the next few months. Our officials maintain close dialogue on a wide range of development issues underpinning our bilateral relationship.

Zimbabwe

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the activities of her Department relating to Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: My Department has provided over £51 million in humanitarian assistance since the crisis began in September 2001. We are helping the World Food Programme, which is currently feeding 4.5 million people, and our NGO programmes provide supplementary food to 1.5 million more—largely children. DFID has also built technical capacity in local NGOs and the UN agencies, and funded vulnerability assessments. We have also distributed seed and fertilizers to 188,000 households in communal areas, affecting the food prospects of one million people in 2003.
	We have helped prevent avoidable deaths and disease through essential drug supply and therapeutic feeding inputs through the WHO and UNICEF. We are also tackling HIV/AIDS through a £26 million programme of prevention and mitigation activities over five years to 2005.

Document Classification

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many documents are held by her Department that are subject to security classification, broken down by category of classification.

Clare Short: DFID holds many thousands of classified documents, and we do not hold figures broken down by category of classification. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. My Department follows the Cabinet Office guidance on document marking and control.

Information Technology

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's (a) total managed expenditure, (b) total spending on Information Technology and (c) spending on Information Technology as a proportion of its total managed expenditure was in each financial year since 1997–98.

Clare Short: The contribution by DFID to total managed expenditure can be measured by the total spending under resource and capital budgets, less non cash items in AME (Annually Managed Expenditure). Data for 1998–99 to 2001–02 were published in our Departmental Reports. New estimates will be published in the same table in the 2003 Departmental Report in May 2003.
	The approximate figures are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Managed expenditure (£) IT spend(£) IT percentage of total 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,529,815 5,020 0.198 
			 1998–99 2,657,741 5,303 0.199 
			 1999–2000 2,985,577 6,622 0.22 
			 2000–01 3,226,336 10,925 0.338 
			 2001–02 3,441,569 15,473 0.449 
			 2002–03 3,454,000 15,000 0.427 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures should be multiplied by thousand.

National Minimum Wage

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to her Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour.

Clare Short: I estimate that there will be no financial impact. The Department's minimum wage under our current pay agreement is £5.25 per hour based on a 37-hour week. We have no reason to believe that DFID's contractor costs will rise due to the increase in the minimum wage.

Palestine

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid her Department has pledged for immediate relief in the Occupied Territories and for the rebuilding of destroyed infrastructure, originally funded by the Department and the European Union.

Clare Short: Last year, out of a total bilateral expenditure of £15 million, about £8 million was used for relief related activity. In addition we contributed £7 million to UNRWA's emergency appeal for 2002. We expect to spend a similar amount this year.
	Infrastructure damage to DFID funded projects has been limited. Where this has occurred we have discussed with our project partners the necessary steps, including additional funding, to ensure projects still meet their objectives. We understand that the European Commission and other member states have taken similar action. The European Union reserves the right to seek compensation from the Israeli authorities.

Sri Lanka

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role humanitarian mine action will play in supporting the peace process in Sri Lanka; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Humanitarian Mine Action is critical for the Sri Lankan peace process. The civil war has displaced nearly one million people in the North and East of the Island. Helping these people and their families return to their former homes, and restart their livelihoods, will build confidence in the peace process and will help foster an environment in which peace can be sustained. However, many of these families are unable to benefit from the peace process. They are living in camps, prevented from returning home because of mines.
	DFID is a major supporter of mine action in Sri Lanka. We have provided over £1 million through the United Nations for demining and public awareness. Further support will be provided within a £6 million contribution recently approved to support UNICEF's Children Affected By Armed Conflict programme. In addition Britain also contributes to the support for mine action which the European Union finances through international and local NGOs in Sri Lanka.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Royal Thai Government to request that (a) Thailand will officially host talks between the Burmese military and the ethnic nationalities, (b) the Thai mediation between the SPDC and the ethnic groups is open and transparent, (c) the future of Burma's national reconciliation will be at the heart of the mediation process and (d) ethnic leaders are allowed to meet officially on Thai soil to discuss their future.

Mike O'Brien: We are in regular contact with the Thai Government concerning the full range of Burma related issues. However we have not made any formal request to the Thai authorities concerning possible Thai mediation on questions concerning Burmese ethnic minority groups and the military regime. Unfortunately, there is no evidence to suggest that the Burmese military regime is yet prepared to enter into substantive discussions/negotiations with Burmese political parties. The primary channel for encouraging national reconciliation in Burma is the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy to Burma, Tan Sri Razali Ismail. We continue to give Tan Sri Razali Ismail our full support and co-operation.

Burma

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government (a) have taken and (b) will take to (i) facilitate the New Panglong Initiatives undertaken by representatives of the eight Burma States, (ii) encourage ethnic representations in the national reconciliation process and (iii) engage with and meet ethnic representatives officially.

Mike O'Brien: Active participation and agreement by Burma's ethnic minority groups will be an essential ingredient in any successful process of national reconciliation in Burma. We welcome and encourage initiatives that help prepare the ethnic minority groups for constructive and successful participation in substantive dialogue on these issues. The UK, EU partners and others are pressing for substantive political dialogue to begin in Burma.
	We maintain regular contact with representatives of Burmese ethnic minority groups through our Embassy in Rangoon. FCO officials in London held a meeting on 24 April with a delegation of religious leaders from Burma, including representatives from ethnic minority groups.

Focus Programme

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there will be a review within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to learn the lessons of overspend on the Focus programme.

Jack Straw: An initial review is already underway to learn the lessons from this programme. We are also looking more widely at lessons learned from other programmes, with a view to drawing these together into a paper which will provide guidance to those managing future programmes. I would be happy to send the right hon. Member a copy of this once it is complete. The final paper will also be published on our unclassified intranet.

Focus Programme

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why it was judged that the Focus programme was not best placed to provide best value for money or provision of services needed after 11 September 2001.

Jack Straw: The right hon. Gentlemen misunderstands the point made in my ministerial statement of 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 2WS. The events of 11 September 2001 raised the importance of back up and disaster recovery in programmes such as Focus. It was one of the factors leading to increased costs.

Focus Programme

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that the cost of the replacement for the Focus programme will fall within his Department's financial budgets.

Jack Straw: We are unable to afford a programme which would meet the original goals of the Focus programme. However, the FCO has prioritised its ICT budgets for this financial year to ensure we have the money required to deliver a new FCO intranet.

Focus Programme

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has been made of the cost of providing a replacement for the Focus programme.

Jack Straw: We cannot afford to fill the gap left by the cancellation of the Focus programme in the current spending round. We will instead squeeze further efficiencies out of existing systems, and introduce a new intranet. The exact cost of the new intranet will depend on the outcome of a scoping exercise which is currently underway. It will certainly be below £1 million.

Focus Programme

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of the cancellation of the contract with Fujitsu for the provision of the Focus programme.

Jack Straw: The net cost of cancelling the contract with Fujitsu was £7 million. This takes into account the amount paid to Fujitsu, internal FCO costs, and the value of assets obtained.

Focus Programme

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money allocated to the Focus programme was irretrievable; whether penalties were imposed by Fujitsu as a result of the cancellation of the contract; and why it took as long as it did to cancel the programme once it became clear that it was no longer required.

Jack Straw: At the point of cancellation the FCO had spent £9.5 million on the Focus programme, including internal costs, supplier costs, hardware and software. Of this we will retain assets of £2.5 million.
	We were able to reach a mutually acceptable settlement with Fujitsu.
	The issue was not that the programme was no longer required but rather that it was no longer affordable. Once the decision to cancel had been taken, we moved quickly to negotiate an agreement with Fujitsu to close the programme.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the statement the United Kingdom Ambassador to the United Nations made to the Security Council when UNSC Resolution 1441 was debated on 8 November 2002; and if he will summarise Ambassador Greenstock's comments on the non-automaticity of the resolution.

Bill Rammell: A copy of Ambassador Greenstock's statement on the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1441 has been placed in the Library of the House. He said on that occasion,
	"There is no 'automaticity' in this resolution. If there is a further Iraqi breach of its disarmament obligations, the matter will return to the Council for discussion as required in paragraph 12 [of Resolution 1441]. We would expect the Security Council then to meet its responsibilities."

Iraq

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 251W, on Iraq, whether there are claims by UK shareholders still outstanding in respect of the 1974 nationalisation of the Iraqi oil industry.

Mike O'Brien: We have not been able to trace any approach by UK shareholders regarding claims in respect of the 1974 nationalisation of the Iraqi oil industry.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether steps have been taken in Iraq to recruit specialists in the international justice sector; and what plans have been made for transitional justice processes.

Mike O'Brien: Our main priority at present is to secure stability in Iraq and to ensure that humanitarian needs are met. Reconstructing the judiciary and helping rebuild the criminal justice system will play an important role in achieving our goal of creating a secure and stable Iraq.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there have been delays in issuing licences to humanitarian agencies in Iraq.

Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government assess all export licence applications as quickly as possible. In most cases applications for Iraq have to be referred to the United Nations for consideration.
	The Government are urgently considering additional measures to facilitate the export of humanitarian goods to Iraq.

Israel

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Israeli government concerning respect for international law.

Mike O'Brien: We have reminded the Israeli Government on many occasions of their obligation to respect international law, in particular in their administration of the Occupied Territories. Where we consider the Government of Israel has breached specific provisions, we make our concerns clear. In the last two months we have lobbied on the need to comply with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention in relation to:
	continued settlement activity;
	excessive use of force by the Israel Defence Forces and civilian casualties;
	unjustified closures which damage the humanitarian situation;
	Palestinians in administrative detention;
	destruction of Palestinian land and property;
	the impact of the "security" fence.

Ministerial Meetings

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last spoke to the (a) German and (b) French Foreign Ministers.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met both Joschka Fischer and Dominique de Villepin in Berlin on 24 April and has since spoken to Monsieur Villepin by telephone on 28 April. The Foreign Secretary met both again at the EU Foreign Ministers informal meeting in Greece on 2–3 May.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Corporate Manslaughter

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to publish draft legislation on corporate manslaughter.

Hilary Benn: We are committed to reforming the law to increase corporate liability for manslaughter and will do so when parliamentary time allows. The results of the regulatory impact assessment are currently being studied and will influence any draft legislation.

Asylum Seekers

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what action he intends to take in respect of solicitors and agents who fail properly to advise clients in respect of asylum cases;
	(2)  what action he (a) has taken and (b) intends to take in respect of solicitors and agents who charge asylum seekers for writing letters to hon. Members.

Beverley Hughes: Anyone in the United Kingdom dissatisfied with the advice or services provided by their immigration adviser may complain to the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), which was established under Part V of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Unnecessary letters to hon. Members and overcharging for writing them can be the basis of a complaint to the OISC.
	If the adviser is regulated by the Commissioner and the complaint is upheld, the Commissioner may take disciplinary action. If the adviser is a solicitor the Commissioner will refer the complaint to the relevant designated professional body (DPB); any subsequent disciplinary action is a matter for that body.
	Complaints may also be submitted direct to a solicitor's professional body or, for publicly funded cases in England and Wales, direct to the Legal Services Commission (LSC). The LSC can withdraw funding from solicitors who do not meet their required standards and refuse to pay for the writing of unnecessary letters.
	The Commissioner reports annually to the Secretary of State as to the effectiveness of each DPB in regulating its members regarding the provision of immigration advice or immigration services. The Commissioner's first such report was incorporated in his Annual Report for 2001–2002 which the Secretary of State presented to Parliament on 23 July 2002.

Asylum Seekers

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the number of asylum seekers last averaged 4,500 per month over a 12-month period; and what the total annual cost to the Exchequer was of the asylum system in that year.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 1 May 2003
	The most recent 12-month period when applications for asylum averaged 4,500 per month was between May 1998 and April 1999, when the total number was 53,020, an average of 4,420 per month.
	For the financial year 1998–99 (April 1998 to March 1999), asylum seeker support payments made by the then Department of Social Security and Department of Health totalled £475 million.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with EU colleagues regarding the inclusion of specific children's rights in EU policy.

Hilary Benn: The Children and Young People's Unit has lead responsibility for monitoring the UK's implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ministers for Children from EU Member States meet yearly for the EU Permanent Intergovernmental Group "Europe de L'Enfance" and the last meeting took place on the 11 October 2002. These meetings include discussions on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as other child rights issues, including progress made on combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children, the EU Social Inclusion Action Plans, and the progress made towards setting up an EU child research observatory.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex offenders have been banned from travelling abroad to locations where they may abuse children; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Under current legislation the courts do not have the power to stop a sex offender subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 from travelling abroad, although those sex offenders who have been released from custody on licence are subject to standard conditions that they must not leave the country without the permission of the supervising officer and this is only granted in exceptional compassionate circumstances.
	In a ministerial statement of 5 March I announced that we would be introducing a new foreign travel order that will enable courts to prohibit those convicted of a sexual offence against a child from travelling to specified countries in certain circumstances. The foreign travel orders are being introduced as a Government Amendment to the Sexual Offences Bill currently before Parliament.
	The new order will be a civil preventative order made following an application from a chief officer of police. It would apply to those convicted of a sexual offence against a child under 16 either in the United Kingdom or abroad. The order would be available where the court was satisfied that it was necessary to protect children overseas from serious sexual harm by the offender. The orders would last for up to six months renewable on further application from the police. A failure to comply with the order would be a criminal offence punishable by up to five years imprisonment.
	Information relating to Scotland is a matter for Ministers in the Scottish Parliament. Information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to ensure that child sex offenders from abroad are prevented from entering the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Provisions exist within the immigration rules to refuse admission to, among others, those who have been convicted of a serious criminal offence or those whose presence in the United Kingdom would not be considered conducive to the public good. We would, where appropriate, use these provisions to deny entry to the United Kingdom to those individuals identified as having been convicted of, or having been involved in, committing serious sexual offences.
	Anyone identified as being of interest to the Immigration Service for such reasons will have their details circulated to all ports and offices likely to encounter them, including visa offices abroad. A person whose conduct or convictions merit it can therefore either be refused a visa or entry clearance by an entry clearance officer abroad or refused leave to enter by an immigration officer on arrival in the United Kingdom.
	We are proposing, as part of the Sexual Offences Bill, a new notification order that would enable the courts to make those who have been convicted of sex offences abroad subject to the sex offenders register if they come to the United Kingdom. The order would make the offender subject to the same notification requirements as an offender convicted of an equivalent offence in the United Kingdom, and failure to comply with the order would be a criminal offence punishable by up to five years imprisonment. The order would apply to UK citizens and foreign nationals.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child protection officers are stationed at UK ports and airports; what plans he has to increase these numbers; and what plans he has to create a permanent child protection unit.

Hilary Benn: Joint work is underway between agencies at principal entry points to identify children at risk. A Child Protection Pilot Project was launched on 10 March 2003 at Heathrow. This is a joint operation between the Metropolitan police and the immigration service involving one child protection officer working closely with immigration officers. The pilot will be rolled out nationally if it proves successful.
	In addition to this, intake teams have been piloted at Dover as joint initiatives between immigration service and social services. These will be extended to other United Kingdom ports, and Croydon and Solihull Asylum Screening Units.
	Kent Police have also seconded one child protection trained officer (female) to the Joint IS/Police Debriefing Team based in Dover. It is hoped that this will shortly be increased to two permanent officers.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is available for immigration and police officers in identifying a trafficked child; and what powers can be used to protect trafficked children discovered at ports and airports.

Beverley Hughes: Training provided to police and immigration officers is through the practical sharing of skills and experience across agencies.
	There is, for example, work underway involving key agencies at principal entry points to identify children at risk, including pilot projects involving the immigration service, police and social services at Heathrow and Dover.
	Furthermore the Home Office has recently published the 'trafficking toolkit' providing guidance for immigration and police officers on how to recognise a victim of trafficking and what to do if such a victim is encountered. In addition all United Kingdom immigration officers at ports of entry have been issued with a profile of potential child trafficking victims. In the event of specific intelligence coming to light about the potential arrival of trafficked children all UK immigration service offices are quickly notified.
	Two immigration officers on attachment to the National Crime Squad Immigration Crime Team (ICT) have attended a week-long multi-agency course on trafficking held by the Child and Women Abuse Studies Unit of the London Metropolitan University. They have cascaded the training to ICT colleagues.
	A vice team consisting of specifically selected immigration officers has also been established in London. The team is fully aware of the procedures with regard to the identification of trafficked children.
	It is an offence under Section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971, as amended by Section 143 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 to assist in unlawful immigration to the United Kingdom, and Section 145 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum (NIA) Act 2002 has also made it an offence to traffic in prostitution. Anyone convicted of either offence is liable to imprisonment for up to 14 years.
	There is however no current evidence to indicate that trafficking in children is a large-scale problem in the United Kingdom.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to ensure child victims of trafficking are protected from and do not return to or are not kidnapped by their trafficker or abuser; what specialist safe accommodation and supervision is available in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Child victims of trafficking are referred to social services to receive assistance and support based on their particular needs. They may arrive in this country as unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, or accompanied by an adult. In the latter case, if anyone who comes into contact with the child is concerned that the child is the victim of abuse or neglect, they should refer the child to the relevant local authority's social services department. Unaccompanied minors seeking asylum will also be referred to social services. Social services have a duty under the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need by providing a range and level of services appropriate to those children's needs or, where appropriate, by arranging for the provision of services from other agencies. This care will be determined by a needs assessment according to the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. Child victims of trafficking are likely to be in need of welfare services and—in many cases—protection under the Children Act 1989.
	Where there is a risk to the life of a child or a likelihood of serious harm, an agency with statutory child protection powers, for example the police or councils with social services responsibilities, should act quickly to secure the immediate initial safety of the child. In some cases, it may be necessary to ensure that the child remains in, or is removed to, a safe place. Under s.20 of the Children Act 1989, a local authority may provide accommodation for any child within their area if they consider that to do so would safeguard or promote the child's welfare. This may involve placing the child in a foster placement or it may place the child in a children's home.
	There are only very limited circumstances in which it is an option to hold a young person in secure accommodation. The Children Act 1989 permits that children may only be held in secure conditions if they satisfy certain specific grounds such as a likelihood of absconding together with a likelihood that injury would be caused to the young person themselves or others. This requires the approval of the courts.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what counselling services are available to child victims of trafficking; and what special immigration arrangements can be made if the child is not from the UK.

Beverley Hughes: The immigration arrangements for child victims of trafficking will depend on the individual circumstances of the case. Unaccompanied asylum seeking children who apply for asylum are referred to the Refugee Council's Panel of Advisers, a non-statutory body which acts as adviser to the child in his or her dealings with the Home Office and other agencies for the duration of the asylum claim. No unaccompanied child will be removed from the United Kingdom unless we are satisfied that adequate reception and care arrangements are in place in the country to which he or she is to be removed.
	We expect that the provision of assistance and support to child victims of trafficking will be secured by local statutory services in response to identified needs. Child victims of trafficking are likely to be in need of welfare services and–in many cases—protection under the Children Act 1989. Social Services have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of these children following an assessment of their circumstances.

Community Support Officers

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training in self-defence is given to police community support officers.

Bob Ainsworth: The training given to community support officers (CSO) is a decision for their chief officers and will depend on the role they are to perform and the powers that they are designated to exercise. The three principal training models currently in use contain elements on self-defence. The emphasis of this training is on the verbal resolution of conflict situations. CSOs are advised to call for police assistance if in any doubt about their own safety or the safety of the public.

Crime Statistics (Buckingham)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of (a) violent crime, (b) burglary and (c) vandalism in the Buckingham constituency were reported to the police in 2001–02; and how many investigations resulted in a conviction.

Bob Ainsworth: The requested details are not collected centrally.
	Details of some offences recorded by the police have been collected by police Basic Command Unit (BCU) since 1 April 1999. The table gives details of numbers of offences and detections for the Aylesbury Vale BCU. Details of criminal damage offences are not available at BCU level.
	
		Aylesbury Vale BCU
		
			  2001–02 
		
		
			 Violent crime(12) 
			 Offences 1,174 
			 Offences detected 754 
			   
			 Burglary in a dwelling 
			 Offences 779 
			 Offences detected 127 
		
	
	(12) Violent crime is comprised of the violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery offence groups.
	Details of convictions specifically relating to offences in the Aylesbury Vale BCU are not available.

CS Gas Sprays

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will authorise community support officers to carry CS gas sprays for use in emergencies.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 1 May 2003
	The role of community support officers (CSO) is to provide uniformed highly visible patrols in communities, to support police officers, and to tackle low level disorder and anti-social behaviour. None of the 27 forces who have currently deployed CSOs have issued them with handcuffs, batons or incapacitant sprays.

Death Certification

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the review of death certification is likely to be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Independent Fundamental Review of Death Certification and Coroner Services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland reported to the Home Secretary at the end of April. The Home Secretary has not, therefore, had the opportunity yet to decide what form the Government's response will take.

Death Certification

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the review of death certification will recommend giving MRSA a code so that it can be listed as a cause of death on death certificates; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Independent Fundamental Review of Death Certification and Coroner Services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland reported to the Home Secretary at the end of April. Ministers are currently considering its recommendations. Currently MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) can and does appear on death certificates.

Drugs

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the additional funding announced for tackling drug misuse on 21 January will be spent on drug treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 21 January a package of measures to fight crime and drug abuse, backed by £190 million of new investment. This included £12.6 million in new resources in 2003–04, a 28 per cent. increase over 2002–03, to support the development of drug treatment services in the 30 areas with the highest levels of drug related crime, as part of the £236 million national pooled treatment budget.

Drugs

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there were for the dealing of drugs in the Easington area in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not available at constituency level. However, data from the Home Office Court Appearances Database show that the number of persons in the Durham police force area who were successfully prosecuted for offences involving 'dealing' in illegal drugs in 2000 was 147. These are the latest figures available at the present time.

Dysfunctional Families

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 9 April 2003, Official Report, column 281W, on Command Paper 5778, 
	(1)  what definition his Department has provided to local authorities in order to allow for common data collection; and what plans he has to collect this data;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to collect figures on dysfunctional families.

Hilary Benn: Dysfunctional families can be identified through the existence of multiple risk factors and/or through the number of contacts that a family has with local agencies. In the coming months we will be publishing a Crime Reduction Toolkit on dysfunctional families to support Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP's) in the identification and development of ways of intervening with dysfunctional families at a local level.
	There are currently no plans to collect data locally or centrally on dysfunctional families in the Home Office.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU committee for the implementation of the incentive, exchange, training and co-operation programme for the prevention of crime, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House.

Bob Ainsworth: The EU Committee for the implementation of the incentive, exchange, training and co-operation programme for the prevention of crime (Hippokrates) does not have a fixed membership, but consists of delegates drawn from each of the 15 European Union member states. The UK representatives in 2002 were: Mr. Paul Ekblom (Grade 7), Research Development and Statistics, Mr. Darren Grubb (Executive Officer), Policing Organised Crime Unit and Miss Sue Garrod (Executive Officer), European and International Unit. The Committee met once in 2002, on 23 July, to discuss the bids which had been received and to agree the allocation of funds to successful projects. The Committee will not meet in future as the Hippokrates funding programme, along with four other Justice and Home Affairs funding programmes (Grotius II, Stop II, Oisin and Falcone), has been superseded by the framework programme on police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters (AGIS). The decisions made by the Committee were not communicated directly to the House as information about the Hippokrates programme is already publicly available.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on preventative measures to fight violence against children, young persons and women, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House.

Bob Ainsworth: The EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on preventative measures to fight violence against children, young persons and women (Daphne) does not have a fixed membership, but consists of delegates drawn from each of the 15 European Union member states. The UK representatives in 2002 were: Miss Jenny Gray (Grade 7), Social Services Inspector, Department of Health and Mrs Louise Day (HEO), Public Order and Crime Issues Unit, Home Office. The Committee met three times in 2002: on 30 January to agree the annual work programme and criteria for evaluating and selecting bids for funding; on 11 September to discuss the bids which had been received and to agree the allocation of funds to successful projects; and on 6 November to agree the annual work programme and criteria for evaluating and selecting bids for 2003. The decisions made by the Committee were not communicated directly to the House as information about the Daphne programme is already publicly available.

Firearms

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many crimes involving firearms were committed in each of the last five years in (a) the East Devon constituency, (b) Devon and (c) Cornwall;
	(2)  how many deaths involving firearms there were in the last five years in (a) the East Devon constituency, (b) Devon and (c) Cornwall.

Bob Ainsworth: Details of firearm offences have not been collected by parliamentary constituency, and Devon and Cornwall comprise a single police force area. Available published data for the Devon and Cornwall police force on the number of recorded homicide offences and recorded crimes in which firearms (including air weapons) were reported to have been used are given in the table.
	
		Number of firearm crimes in Devon and Cornwall
		
			  Homicides Total offences involving firearms 
		
		
			 1997 0 94 
			 1998–99 1 144 
			 1999–2000 1 140 
			 2000–01 1 111 
		
	
	Numbers of firearms offences were published on a calendar year basis up to 1997, and on a financial year basis thereafter. There was a change of counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998 which had the effect of increasing the number of crimes counted. Numbers of recorded crimes before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.

Firearms

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms have been surrendered to the police as part of the Trident gun amnesty campaign.

Bob Ainsworth: As at 23 April, 1,485 guns, 34,677 rounds of ammunition and 522 other weapons had been handed in to the Metropolitan Police as part of the national firearms amnesty. The amnesty finished on 30 April and final figures are now being collected.

Firearms

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving a firearm were committed in the UK in (a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987, (d) 1992, (e) 1997, (f) 2001 and (g) 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of recorded offences involving firearms in England and Wales for the years in question are given in the table.
	
		Number of firearm offences (including air weapons)
		
			 Year Number of offences 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1979 6,547 
			 1983 7,961 
			 1987 9,002 
			 1992 13,341 
			 1997 12,410 
			 2000–01 17,697 
			 2001–02 22,314 
		
	
	Numbers of firearms offences were published on a calendar year basis up to 1997, and on a financial year basis thereafter.
	There was a change of counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which will have the effect of increasing the number of crimes counted. Numbers of recorded crimes before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable. As a result of some police forces adopting the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in advance of its official introduction across England and Wales on 1 April 2002, numbers of offences recorded in 2000–01 and 2001–02 may also have been inflated.
	Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland (Helen Liddell) and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Paul Murphy).

Graffiti Magazines

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to prevent the sale from licensed retail premises of graffiti magazines containing pictures of illegal graffiti.

Bob Ainsworth: The Home Office has no plans to do so.

Hemsworth Crime

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) anti-social behaviour orders and (b) curfew orders have been made in the Hemsworth constituency since the commencement of the scheme.

Bob Ainsworth: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. Information held centrally up to 31 May 2000 is for the number of ASBOs issued within England and Wales by police force area only.
	From 1 June 2000 official statistics on the number of ASBOs issued within England and Wales are based on quarterly returns from Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs). From copies of the orders we have been able to identify local authority areas involved. The number of notifications received by the Home Office of ASBOs issued in the West Yorkshire MCC, from 1 April 1999 to 30 November 2002 (latest available) is 25. From 1 June 2000 to 30 November 2002 no notifications have been received of ASBOs issued within the Wakefield metropolitan district council area (in which the Hemsworth constituency is situated).
	We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made nationally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates' courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
	The table shows the number of Curfew Orders with electronic monitoring made in the Hemsworth constituency from 1999 up to March 2003.
	No applications have yet been received to establish a local child curfew scheme under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Some local authorities and police forces have considered the possibility but concluded that other measures should be taken to tackle relevant local problems.
	
		Number of curfew orders imposed in the Hemsworth constituency -- 1999–2003(13)
		
			  Adult Juvenile Total 
		
		
			 1999 111 0 111 
			 2000 133 0 133 
			 2001 136 14 150 
			 2002 180 11 191 
			 2003(13) 49 8 57 
			 Total 609 33 642 
		
	
	(13) Up to March 2003

Hemsworth Crime

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers additional to the complement on 1st May 1997 were appointed to the Hemsworth constabulary in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: Hemsworth is part of the Wakefield Division of West Yorkshire Police force. Deployment of resources between divisions and other units of West Yorkshire Police is an operational matter for the Chief Constable (Mr. Colin Cramphorn).
	Information has not been collected centrally on a regular basis about the number of officers deployed to particular Divisions or to areas within those divisions. However, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply of 2 December 2002 by my right hon. Friend, the Member for Southampton Itchen (John Denham) to the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Simon Hughes), Official Report, column 589W, setting out police strength for each Basic Command Unit for each force in England and Wales as at 31 March 2002.
	In total West Yorkshire Police had 5,209 police officers and 2,234 civilian support staff on 31 March 1997. The number of police officers fell to 4,815 at 31 March 2001, since then it has been rising, reaching 4,999 at 30 September 2002. At 31 March 1997 West Yorkshire Police had 2,234 civilian support staff. By 31 March 2002, the latest available figures, this had risen to 2,364.
	Police officer strength nationally fell after March 1997, before rising to the record number of 131,548 at 30 September 2002. The fall in West Yorkshire was much more marked than that which occurred nationally, despite the force having done a little better than the national average in terms of resources. This will have been a reflection of local decisions by West Yorkshire's chief officers and its police authority about the mix between precept increases, balances of officer and civilian numbers and other expenditure.

Hemsworth Crime

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the number of illegal firearms in circulation in the Hemsworth constituency; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many deaths by firearms have occurred in each of the last five years in (a) the Hemsworth constituency and (b) England;
	(3)  how many firearms have been handed in to police over the past five years in (a) the Hemsworth constituency and (b) England;
	(4)  how many crimes involving firearms have occurred in each of the last five years in (a) the Hemsworth constituency and (b) England.

Bob Ainsworth: Details of the number of illegal firearms in circulation are not collected centrally.
	Details of firearms offences are not collected by parliamentary constituency. Available published data on the total number of recorded crimes in which firearms (including air weapons) were reported to have been used in West Yorkshire and England are given in the table.
	
		Number of recorded crimes involving firearms
		
			  West Yorkshire England 
		
		
			 1997 974 11,816 
			 1998–99 1,041 13,283 
			 1999–2000 1,235 16,234 
			 2000–01 1,544 17,083 
		
	
	Numbers of firearms offences were published on a calendar year basis up to 1997, and on a financial year basis thereafter.
	There was a change of counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which will have the effect of increasing the number of crimes counted. Numbers of recorded crimes before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable. As a result of some police forces' adopting the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in advance of its official introduction across England and Wales on 1 April 2002, numbers of offences recorded in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 for England may have been inflated. West Yorkshire adopted the Standard on 1 April 2002, therefore their figures will not have been affected.
	Information on the number of firearms that have been handed in to police are not routinely collected centrally.
	Available published data on the number of recorded homicide offences in which firearms were reported to have been used are given in the table.
	
		Number of homicide offences involving firearms
		
			  West Yorkshire England 
		
		
			 1997 1 57 
			 1998–99 4 49 
			 1999–2000 1 62 
			 2000–01 3 72

Hemsworth Crime

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles were arrested for (a) robbery and (b) other offences defined as street crime in (a) England, (b) London and (c) the Hemsworth constituency, in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: Statistics are collected on arrests for notifiable offences, by offence group and police force area (pfa), and are published on a financial year basis. The table shows data for the notifiable offence group of robbery, for the years 1999–2000 to 2001–02. Information for earlier years is not available on a consistent basis.
	Data for 2002–03 will be published in the autumn.
	Street crime is generally referred to as the offences of robbery and snatch theft. Snatch thefts are not separately identifiable from other offences covered under the theft and handling stolen goods offence group.
	
		The number of persons aged 10–17 arrested for robbery, by police force area (pfa) and for England, 1999–2000 to 2001–02
		
			 Area 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			  
			  
			 England (estimated) 12,700 14,300 15,700 
			 Pfa
			 Metropolitan Police (14)4,700 (14)5,684 (15)5,956 
			 West Yorkshire(16) 244 566 776 
		
	
	(14) Excludes City of London as arrests data not available.
	(15) Includes City of London
	(16) Pfa in which the constituency of Hemsworth is located.

Intoxicating Substances

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government propose to take following the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 1995 that cigarette lighter refills be limited in size to about 25ml; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department of Trade and Industry pursued the Advisory Council's recommendation with the industry. Some manufacturers voluntarily introduced a 25ml gas lighter refill, but progress towards an industry-wide agreement to reduce the refills to a maximum size of 25ml was hampered by anti-competitive considerations and practical difficulties.
	In view of the difficulties encountered in trying to implement the recommendation, the Government decided to tackle the problem by an alternative means. It accordingly introduced the Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999, which prohibits the sale or supply of lighter refills containing butane gas to anyone under 18 years.

Intoxicating Substances

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been under the Intoxicating Substance (Supply) Act 1985 in each year since 1992.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is given in the table for the period 1992 to 2000. These are the latest figures available at the present time. The data are from the Home Office Court Appearances Database.
	
		Number of convictions under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985, England and Wales, 1992–2000
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1992 4 
			 1993 4 
			 1994 6 
			 1995 0 
			 1996 3 
			 1997 6 
			 1998 6 
			 1999 5 
			 2000 0

Iraqi Nationals

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi nationals have been granted exceptional leave to remain in the UK since 1991.

Beverley Hughes: The table shows the number of Iraqi asylum applicants, excluding dependants, granted exceptional leave to remain in the UK between January 1991 and December 2002. These statistics relate to initial decisions only and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	
		Initial decisions on applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom(17), 1991–2002, nationals of Iraq—number of principal applicants
		
			Cases considered under normal procedures(18)  Backlog clearance exercise(19) Exceptional 
			  Initial decisions(20) Grantedasylum Granted ELR Refused Grantedasylum Refused under backlog criteria(21) leave granted when applicant had not applied for asylum(22) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1991 175 45 115 15 — — 250 
			 1992 1,440 190 1,210 40 — — 185 
			 1993 515 185 300 30 — — 990 
			 1994 645 380 220 45 — — 620 
			 1995 795 570 175 50 — — 205 
			 1996 665 470 135 60 — — 380 
			 1997 665 255 295 110 — — 205 
			 1998 1,100 510 500 90 — — 110 
			 1999 745 315 320 100 5 * 75 
			 2000 5,530 845 2,455 2,220 10 * 40 
			 2001(23) 8,880 815 1,855 6,210 — — 20 
			 2002(23) 11,785 700 8,130 2,955 — — n/a 
		
	
	(17) Figures rounded to the nearest five, with * = one or two.
	(18) Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
	(19) Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum application backlog.
	(20) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	(21) Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.
	(22) Exceptional leave granted in view of internal situation in Iraq when applicant had not applied for asylum, excluding dependants
	(23) Provisional data.
	Information on initial decisions on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the period up to March 2003.

Juvenile Crime

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles were arrested for (a) robbery and (b) other offences defined as street crime in (i) London, (ii) Manchester and (iii) Leeds in each month in 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: Statistics are collected on arrests for notifiable offences quarterly, by offence group and police force area (pfa), and are published on a financial year basis. The table shows data for the notifiable offence group of robbery, for the period 2001–02 by quarter, for the pfas Metropolitan police, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. Data for 2002–03 will be published in the autumn.
	Street crime is generally referred to as the offences of robbery and snatch theft. Snatch thefts are not separately identifiable from other offences covered under the theft and handling stolen goods offence group.
	
		Number of persons aged 10–17 arrested for robbery, by police force area, England and Wales 2001–02
		
			 Police force area (pfa) April to June 2001 July to September 2001 October to December 2001 January to March 2002 Total 
		
		
			 Greater Manchester 296 275 271 252 1,094 
			 Metropolitan police(24) 1,796 1,174 1,497 1,489 5,956 
			 West Yorkshire 198 177 192 209 776 
		
	
	(24) Includes City of London

Mersey Tunnels Police

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had about an agreement between the Police Complaints Authority and the Mersey Tunnels Police.

Bob Ainsworth: There have been no such discussions.

Plastic Bottles

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what representations he has received in favour of increasing the use of plastic bottles in bars and clubs from (a) the police, (b) environmental agencies and (c) other interested parties; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has held with representatives of (a) the British Beer and Pub Association and (b) other organisations to promote the use of plastic bottles; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions (a) he has had and (b) his officials have had with other Departments on promoting the use of plastic bottles in bars and clubs; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I have not held any recent discussions with representatives of the British Beer and Pub Association or other organisations on what can be done to promote the use of plastic bottles. Nor have I received any representations in favour of increasing the use of plastic bottles in bars and clubs from the police, environmental agencies or other interested parties. But representations have been received from one individual, advocating a switch from glass to plastic bottles in the United Kingdom licensed trade to minimise the risk of glass-related injuries taking place.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend for Harrow West, (Mr. Thomas) on 28 March 2003, Official Report, column 451W. We remain concerned about the high level of injuries that occur when glasses and bottles are used as weapons in drink-related situations in and outside licensed premises and other drinking establishments, and we intend to see that this problem is effectively tackled. The Licensing Bill Guidance that has been published in draft by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will include a range of conditions that a licensing authority could impose on a premises to address violence of this form.
	My officials are working closely with the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit on their study to produce a national strategy for reducing the harm associated with alcohol misuse. The study, which was announced on 19 July 2002, is paying particular attention to the issue of alcohol-related violence, and views have been sought and obtained from a wide variety of organisations and individuals.

Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance data is gathered by the Police Standards Unit from local police forces.

Bob Ainsworth: The Police Standards Unit itself does not gather performance data from local police forces directly. The Unit does assemble and make use of performance information, for instance on crime rates, detection rates and resource usage, which is collected from forces by other parts of the Home Office. The Unit also makes use of some data collected by the Association of Chief Police Officers (for instance on forensics performance).

Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress achieved in developing the Police Performance Assessment Framework.

Bob Ainsworth: As stated in the National Policing Plan 2002–06, the Home Office, in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Association of Police Authorities (APA) and the other key stakeholders, is developing a balanced performance assessment framework for policing—the "Policing Performance Assessment Framework" (PPAF). When completed, this will facilitate the monitoring of policing performance across six performance areas (domains): citizen focus; reducing crime; investigating crime; promoting public safety; providing assistance and resource usage.
	Before the full PPAF is introduced, an interim assessment framework is being used to compare policing performance. The National Policing Plan 2002–06 details 13 interim performance indicators against which performance is being assessed. The report "Police Performance Monitoring 2001/02" published in February 2002 contains further information.

Police

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian police staff based in Shrewsbury Police Station were subjected to (i) verbal and (ii) physical attacks in the last year.

Bob Ainsworth: The requested details are not collected centrally. Available information is as follows:
	
		West Mercia Constabulary—2001–02
		
			  Police officers Civilian police staff 
		
		
			 Fatal assaults 0 0 
			 Serious assaults 18 1 
			 Less serious assaults 234 19 
			 Total 252 20

Police

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with (a) the Metropolitan Police and (b) senior police officers in Hackney and Havering regarding the loss of eight police officers from the London Borough of Havering to the London Borough of Hackney;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the loss of eight police officers from the London Borough of Havering to the London Borough of Hackney;
	(3)  when he next intends to review police numbers in the London Boroughs of (a) Havering and (b) Hackney.

Bob Ainsworth: Decisions about the allocation of resources, including police officers, to the London Boroughs are matters for the Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA).
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has regular meetings with the Commissioner (Sir John Stevens QPM) at which a range of policing issues are discussed, including police numbers. I understand from the Commissioner that he and the MPA are committed to achieving borough workforce targets in all boroughs as soon as practicable.

Prison Service

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Prison Service officers in the North West are acting as principal officers; and how long each has served in that temporary post.

Hilary Benn: The number of Prison Service senior officers in the North West acting as principal officers is 27.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Up to 1 year 14 
			 Between 1 and 2 years 8 
			 Over 2 years 5 
		
	
	Detail of how long each has served in that temporary post is provided in the table.
	
		
			 Senior officer Period 
		
		
			 1 3 days 
			 2 11 days 
			 3 1 month 
			 4 1 month 
			 5 2 months 
			 6 3 months 
			 7 3 months 
			 8 6 months 
			 9 7 months 
			 10 7 months 
			 11 8 months 
			 12 9 months 
			 13 10 months 
			 14 10 months 
			 15 13 months 
			 16 15 months 
			 17 18 months 
			 18 18 months 
			 19 19 months 
			 20 21 months 
			 21 21 months 
			 22 22 months 
			 23 25 months 
			 24 26 months 
			 25 28 months 
			 26 32 months 
			 27 40 months

Pub-watch Scheme

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department has offered to promote the Pub-watch scheme.

Bob Ainsworth: The Government welcome the contribution that Pub-watch schemes can make in helping to tackle alcohol-related violence and disorder. The importance of that contribution was reflected in the Home Office action plan, "Tackling Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder and Nuisance", published in August 2000. The plan highlights how such schemes, by disseminating information about known individuals or groups of people, can help to keep troublemakers from pubs and clubs, as well as provide early warning to bar staff, door staff and the police of instances of possible disorder.
	The Home Office does not provide direct financial support to Pub-watch schemes.

Road Accident Victims

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding is available within his Department for helping the victims of serious road accidents; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Home Office is providing funding for victims of serious road incidents in a number of ways.
	The police are able to use their general grant settlement to deploy family liaison officers for serious road incidents. The resource made available is a local operational matter. However, since this April, family liaison officers are routinely deployed at fatal incidents or those which seem likely to result in a fatality. In carrying out their duties, family liaison officers issue a copy of the Brake guide "Advice for bereaved families and friends following a death on the road". In 2003–04, the Home Office is providing Brake with a grant of £46,752 to ensure its production and distribution.
	The core funding provided to Victim Support allows them to provide a Witness Service in all Crown and magistrates courts. If a road traffic incident involves a court case, the victim or their family can access this support.
	The White Paper, "Justice for All" included a proposal to extend specialist support for road traffic victims. Pilot projects are currently being set up to test the most effective ways of providing support.

Secondments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been seconded to his Department from the private sector, in each case listing (a) from which organisation and (b) dates of secondments in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03.

Hilary Benn: Secondments are part of the Interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange provides opportunities for civil servants to learn new skills, widen their experience and develop ideas. It also brings in skills and experiences from other sectors.
	Details of staff seconded from the private sector to the Home Department are listed in the table. Data for 2002–03 is provisional. Final figures will be available later in the year.
	
		
			 Name of organisation Number of staff Duration 
		
		
			  April 2001 to March 2002 
			 Not listed 1 Not listed 
			 BT 1 15 March 2002to 4 March 2003 
			
			  April 2002 to March 2003 
			 BT 1 15 March 2002 to present 
			 Bates Wells & Braithwaite Solicitors 1 27 January 2003 to present

Secondments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been seconded to his Department from NGOs in each case listing (a) from which organisation and (b) dates of secondments in each year since 1997–98.

Hilary Benn: Secondments are part of the Interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved. Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange provides opportunities for civil servants to learn new skills, widen their experience and develop ideas. It also brings in skills and experiences from other sectors.
	Full details of organisations and dates are not held centrally. Available data on inward secondments is listed in the table. Data for 2002–03 is not yet available.
	
		
			  Total number of staff on inward secondment to the Home Office 
		
		
			 1997–98 20 
			 1998–99 25 
			 1999–2000 30 
			 2000–01 21 
			 2001–02 44

Sexual Assault (Support Services)

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Home Office budget for rape counselling and support services was in financial year 2002–03.

Hilary Benn: At present the Home Office does not directly fund rape counselling services. During the financial year 2002–03, the Department paid a grant of £302,000 to the Rape Crisis Federation (RCF), an umbrella body for a network of some 40 local rape crisis centres in England and Wales. This grant enabled the Federation to provide a range of support services to its member groups, but was not intended to provide direct services to rape victims.
	The Department's main programme for providing support services to victims of crime, including victims of rape and sexual assault, is through its grant in aid to the organisation Victim Support. Total Home Office funding to Victim Support during 2002–03 was £29.3 million. It is not possible to put a precise figure on how much of this funding was spent on services to victims of rape and sexual assault.

Sexual Assault (Support Services)

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Home Office will publish the comparative study of sexual assault referral centres carried out by London Metropolitan University.

Hilary Benn: As part of the work conducted under the Crime Reduction Programme Violence against Women Initiative, the Home Office commissioned Professor Liz Kelly from London Metropolitan University to evaluate the contribution of three established Sexual Assault Referral Centres towards supporting victims of rape and sexual assault and reducing attrition in the criminal justice system. An overview of the research is due to be published in the autumn of 2003.

Sexual Assault (Support Services)

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Home Office's preferred model is for rape counselling and support services.

Hilary Benn: The Home Office does not currently have a 'preferred model' for the provision of rape counselling and support services.
	This objective may be achieved through the use of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs); rape crisis and other counselling and support services; national or local telephone helplines; or some combination of these.

Travellers

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the timescale for introducing the proposals to provide the police with increased powers to move on unauthorised traveller encampments which were announced on 5 July 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 1 May 2003
	We will bring forward legislation when parliamentary time allows.

HEALTH

Breast Cancer

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government is doing to ensure that women with breast cancer are not waiting longer than the four weeks between being told that they need radiotherapy and starting their treatment.

Hazel Blears: A waiting time target of a maximum one month from diagnosis to first treatment was introduced for all cases of breast cancer in 2001. In the last quarter—October to December 2002—96.5 per cent. of women received their first treatment within a month of diagnosis with breast cancer. Separate data on waiting times for radiotherapy are not collected centrally. In order to tackle radiotherapy waiting times, we are making unprecedented investment in new radiotherapy facilities, streamlining care processes through the cancer services collaborative and working to best utilise the current workforce and to increase the number of staff in post and in training.

Drug Misuse and Dependence

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 1 April 2003, Official Report, column 691W, if he will place a copy of Drug Misuse and Dependence-Guidelines of Clinical Management (1999); in the Library.

Hazel Blears: Copies of 'Drug Misuse and Dependence—Guidelines on Clinical Management' are available in the Library. The document is also available on the Department's website at http://www.doh.qov.uk/drugdep.htm.

Epilepsy

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sudden unexpected deaths from epilepsy there were in (a) Shropshire, (b) the West Midlands, (c) England and (d) the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Owen Paterson, dated 7 May 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many sudden unexpected deaths from epilepsy there were in (a) Shropshire, (b) the West Midlands, (c) England and (d) the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available (111667).
	The figures requested are given in the following table. The total number of deaths with an underlying cause of epilepsy are also provided as context for the number that are "sudden unexpected deaths".
	
		Number of deaths with an underlying cause of epilepsy(25) and among those, those where "sudden unexpected death in epilepsy"(26) was mentioned on the death certificate, England, West Midlands Government Office Region and Shropshire,(27) 1997 to 2001(28) -- Number of deaths
		
			  England   West Midlands   Shropshire 
			 Year All Sudden unexpected All Sudden unexpected All Sudden unexpected 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997 769 54 77 * * — 
			 1998 789 55 76 * 7 — 
			 1999 819 87 97 5 8 — 
			 2000 804 97 90 * 11 — 
			 2001 984 149 118 25 9 * 
		
	
	— Zero deaths
	*Fewer than five deaths
	(25) Cause of death selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 345 for the years 1997 to 2000, and, for the year 2001, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes G40 and G41.
	(26) Deaths where "sudden unexpected death in epilepsy" or similar wording (e.g. "sudden unexplained death in epilepsy") was written on the death certificate.
	(27) Figures relate deaths of usual residents of these areas. Figures for Shropshire are for the former county as they include deaths in Telford and Wrekin which became a unitary authority in 1998. Figures for the United Kingdom are not available.
	(28) Figures are for deaths which occurred in these years.

EU Cancer Plan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU committee for the implementation of the Community action plan to combat cancer, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House.

Hazel Blears: No officials now sit on this committee which existed for the purpose of the Europe Against Cancer programme. The Europe Against Cancer programme was completed in December 2002.

Fertility Treatment

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what action he is taking to ensure that infertility treatment and assisted conception techniques are available on the NHS throughout England and Wales;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's review of infertility services;
	(3)  what representations he has received from West Gloucestershire primary care trust regarding provision of infertility services.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 1 May 2003
	The West Gloucestershire primary care trust (PCT) has made no representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health about the provision of infertility services. Along with other PCTs, it is awaiting the outcome of the review of infertility services by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
	In NICE we have a means of bringing order to what has, until now, often been an unfair way for patients to access treatment and care. NICE guidelines will provide recommendations for good practice based on the best available evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness. The guidelines emerging from NICE will reflect the three stages of infertility services, which are primary care, where couples first contact their general practitioner, secondary care for more advanced exploration and treatments, and tertiary centres that provide the high tech treatments such as in-vitro fertilisation.
	Overall, however, we are seeking to achieve integrated guidance so that when couples have to be referred on to a further stage in the investigation and treatment of their infertility they can be offered a seamless service.
	We expect the guidance produced by NICE to be implemented consistently across the national health service and the uptake of this guidance will be monitored locally and by the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection. Clinicians have to make an independent clinical judgement taking due account of NICE's advice and the strength of evidence which lies behind it.
	NICE is expected to deliver the guidelines in November 2003.

Methadone Overdose Deaths

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned into the number of methadone overdose deaths in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available and (b) evaluated on the role of methadone supervision in reducing overdose deaths.

Hazel Blears: The Office for National Statistics maintains a database that contains information on deaths from drug-related poisonings for each year since 1993.
	In 2001, the last year for which figures are available, there were 207 deaths where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate. It should be noted that where more than one drug is mentioned on the death certificate, it is not always possible to tell which of them was primarily responsible for the death.
	Comprehensive reviews of the effectiveness of methadone have been provided by several authors (Hall et al., 1998, Farrell et al., 1994, Bertschy 1995, Marsch, 1998). Most of those studies demonstrating the effectiveness of methadone are of on-going maintenance treatment but the evidence generally becomes weaker as the duration of treatment shortens, with little systematic evidence to support short-term detoxification. Specific studies include Fontain & Ansseau, 1995, Glass, 1993 and Gossop, M. et al., 2001. High quality medical and psychosocial services, a clear orientation towards social rehabilitation, treatment longevity and slow detoxification of well-stabilised patients have all been identified as giving the best outcomes, including reducing overdose deaths.

Prostate Cancer

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage applications for research funding for projects relating to prostate cancer.

Hazel Blears: The Department, jointly with other members of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), has established the NCRI prostate cancer collaboratives, and is funding half of the total cost of £7.4 million over five years. The collaboratives regularly issue calls for proposals for pilot projects to support innovative research ideas.
	The Department is currently directly funding a large-scale randomised controlled trial (called ProtecT) evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for clinically localised prostate cancer. The trial, at a total cost of about £14 million, is being undertaken in nine centres. It will involve over 100,000 men between the ages of 50 and 69 years, and will compare three treatments: active monitoring; radical prostactectomy, and radical radiotherapy. The Department is also funding several other important projects into other aspects of prostate cancer that have been identified as priorities, and by 2003–04 will be directly funding £4.2 million of research a year into prostate cancer, subject to quality proposals being received.

Prostate Cancer

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the model of the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group to other disease groups.

Hazel Blears: The Department will continue to encourage, build on and improve partnership working between the National Health Service, the voluntary sector and professional organisations. The prostate cancer advisory group is one model that can be considered as this work develops.

Scans (Waiting Times)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of current waiting times for (a) CT scans, (b) MRI scans, (c) ultrasound scans and (d) X-ray tests;
	(2)  what guidance he has issued on the maximum length of time a patient should wait for (a) a CT scan, (b) an MRI scan, (c) an ultrasound scan, (d) X-ray tests and (e) audiology tests;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of data collection concerning waiting times for (a) CT scans, (b) MRI scans, (c) ultrasound scans and (d) X-ray tests.

Hazel Blears: Data are not collected centrally on waiting times for diagnostic scans nor has any central guidance been issued. The length of time that a patient may have to wait for any scan is dependent on their clinical condition. Emergency cases need to be seen immediately. Other cases will be carried out as quickly as possible, dependent on the clinical priority of all patients waiting to be scanned.
	Where a scan forms part of the diagnostic process for a patient urgently referred with suspected cancer, this will be covered by the target of a maximum two months wait from urgent referral to first treatment, which will be in place for all cancers by the end of 2005.
	To increase the capacity of diagnostic services, funding has been made available for the provision of new and replacement scanners. The New Opportunities Fund has provided funding for 57 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners and the NHS Cancer Plan has provided funding for a further 50 MRI and 50 computed tomography scanners through central purchasing programmes by 2004.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been given to medical professionals on the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Hazel Blears: The Department issued information and advice on the diagnosis and treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to all general practitioners, trusts and public health professionals on Friday 14 March and Monday 7 April via the Chief Medical Officer's public health link system.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Housing Development

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 11 April, Official Report, column 429W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the summary of the responses to the consultation document, The Way Forward for Housing Capital Finance, on which he relied in reaching the decisions reflected in Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future and the Local Government Bill.

Tony McNulty: A copy of the summary of responses to the consultation document 'The Way Forward for Housing Capital Finance' has been placed in the library of the House.
	The consultation paper included proposals on the abolition of the Local Authority Housing Grant (LASHG), capital receipts pooling and reform of the housing capital finance regime.
	Views were evenly balanced on the proposal to pool capital receipts. There was greater concern about the proposal to abolish LASHG, but many of those responding were under the impression that the resources currently used for LASHG would no longer be available. That was not the intention, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister therefore determined to abolish LASHG from 1 April this year so as to be able to target the resources more effectively. The resources have been taken fully into account in the Communities Plan, with transitional arrangements to ensure that the most advanced LASHG schemes in the pipeline can continue.

Housing Development

Patsy Calton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the £230 million transitional fund for housing was calculated; what assessment he has made of whether it will cover outstanding projects; and whether it is ringfenced.

Tony McNulty: The transitional funding figure was an estimate made on the basis of information provided by the Housing Corporation as to normal levels of commitments by authorities at yearend. The transitional arrangements have since been extended to support investment in housing of up to £550 million in 2003–04, which is higher than in any previous year. The money will be ring-fenced to schemes that could have gone ahead in 2003–04 if LASHG had continued. Details are set out in the statement given on 5 March 2003, Official Report, column. 82WS.

Exhibitions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list events at which his Department and each agency and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible have exhibited in each of the past three years, stating for each (a) the purpose of exhibiting, (b) the cost of exhibiting and (c) the number of staff attending for the exhibition.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002.
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Firefighters' Dispute

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many man-hours have been lost in the Fire Service in the London Borough of Havering as a result of strike action in the past 12 months.

Nick Raynsford: Information on the exact number of man-hours lost in Havering due to the strikes in the Fire Service is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, there are two shifts in a 24-hour period. Twenty shifts were severely affected by strike action by members of the Fire Brigades Union in November 2002, six in January 2003 and four in February 2003.

Gifts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list gifts made by his Department to (a) governments and officials of overseas countries, (b) foreign companies and (c) other persons, in each year since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002. Since then, gifts purchased by the Office for presentation to governments and officials of overseas countries comprise two alarm clocks, six ornamental candles, two ornamental boxes, two trays and one photo frame. There are no gifts recorded as being given to foreign companies or other persons.

Local Plan (Tewksbury)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will instruct his inspectors to speed up the dispatch of their Report on Tewkesbury Borough Council's Local Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Inspector's report on objections to the Tewkesbury Local Plan is expected to be issued to Tewkesbury Borough Council during December 2003, as requested by the Council. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, to write to the hon. Member.

Ministerial Costs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the costs have been in (a) salary, (b) administrative support and (c) travel of the (i) Deputy Prime Minister, (ii) Minister of State for Housing, (iii) Minister of State for Local Government, (iv) Minister of State for Social Exclusion, (v) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Planning and (vi) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government, since May 2002.

Christopher Leslie: Since 1 June 2002 to 31 March 2003 the total costs to public funds in (a) salary, (b) administrative support and (c) travel of the Ministers specified were as follows:
	(a) £191,790
	(b) £638,309
	(c) £27,357.61

National Insurance

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost will be to public funds in 2003–04 of the rise in national insurance contributions on the salary bill of his Department.

Christopher Leslie: It is estimated the changes to employers' National Insurance contributions will increase pay costs on average by 0.7 per cent. next year.

National Minimum Wage

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to his Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour.

Christopher Leslie: No additional costs for staff will be incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, it's agencies and the non-departmental public bodies as a result of the increase in the national minimum wage.

Nominated Insurance

David Crausby: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on nominated insurance relating to leaseholders.

Tony McNulty: Section 164 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 will allow leaseholders of houses who are subject to a nominated insurer clause to be able to insure the property with the insurer of their choice provided that certain conditions are met.
	In order to implement this provision, the form of the notice of cover must be prescribed by regulation. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a consultation paper on 6 May that seeks views on draft regulations that prescribe the form of the notice of cover and also seeks views on additional information to be included in the notice.

Park Homes

Margaret Moran: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he intends to take to increase protection of park home owners against site owners.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently considering how best to take forward the agenda for reform following the undertakings given by the Government in its response to the Park Homes Working Party report.

Park Homes

Margaret Moran: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many park home site owners have been prosecuted for overcharging park home owners for utility services in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Part-time Workers

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of the Part-time Workers Directive on staff in his Department.

Christopher Leslie: Part-time working is one of several ways in which the Office of the Deputy Minister offers staff flexibility in their working patterns. The percentage of staff within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister who work part time is 9 per cent. For the Executive Agencies of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister the percentage of staff who work part-time is as follows: the Rent Service 8 per cent., PINS 15 per cent., Fire Service College 10 per cent. and the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 4 per cent..

Performance Indicators

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) best value performance indicators and (b) Social Service Inspectorate performance indicators there are for which local authorities must provide information to central Government.

Christopher Leslie: The Government require local authorities to provide information on a range of best value performance indicators. Details of the number which were set from 2000–01 to 2003–04 are set out in the table, together with the overall change in the number of Audit Commission and best value performance indicators since 2000–01.
	
		
			  National BVPIs and ACPIs 2000–01(29) National BVPIs 2001–02 National BVPIs 2002–03 National BVPIs 2003–04 Percentage decrease from 2000–01 to 2003–04 
		
		
			 Unitaries/metropolitan boroughs 189 123 97 98 48% 
			 London boroughs 189 121 94 95 50% 
			 County councils (including Fire) 134 105 86 85 37% 
			 District councils 91 65 51 53 42% 
			 Fire authorities 18 18 19 19 n/a 
		
	
	(29) Includes Audit Commission performance indicators which were replaced entirely in 2001–02 by best value performance indicators.
	My right hon. Friend the member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) asked the 150 local authorities with responsibility for social services to provide information on 50 high-level social services performance assessment framework indicators in 2002–03 and will do so for 50 indicators in 2003–04. A total of 13 of the social services performance assessment framework indicators are also included in the best value set for 2003–04.
	The Social Services Inspectorate does not set performance indicators but instead uses them along with other information to inform assessments of local authorities' performance on delivering social services.

Planning Guidance

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to revise PPG21; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a consultation paper on 26 February which proposed the cancellation of PPG21 (Tourism) and its replacement with good practice guidance. The consultation period closes on 23 May. After that date all responses received will be fully considered before any decision is taken on the future of PPG21.

Public Land (Re-use)

Llew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to paragraph 3.126 of Budget 2003, HC500, by what means the Government will consider how surplus central and local government landholdings can contribute to the delivery of corporate government objectives on recycling public owned land for productive re-use.

Tony McNulty: English Partnerships is currently developing a register of surplus public sector land in England, and hopes to complete an initial version of the register by the end of May. The information in the register will help us explore how surplus central government sites can best be used to contribute to the delivery of corporate Government objectives. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will also clarify the scope for encouraging local authorities to take account of these wider policy objectives in their land disposals.

Regional Government

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many responses were received from the North West of England on the consultation on regional government; and how many (a) were in favour of regional government, (b) were opposed to regional government and (c) expressed mixed views.

Nick Raynsford: By 1 May 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 2086 replies from individuals and organisations in the North West to the Soundings Exercise on the level of interest in a referendum on establishing an elected regional assembly. In the light of changes to the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill, we have asked for any further responses by 16 May. We asked for views about the level of interest in holding a referendum, not about interest in regional government itself, and most respondents confined their responses to the former.

Sickness Absence

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for (a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1997 the daily average number of staff absent on sick leave, and what the numbers represent as a percentage of the relevant total work force.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) on 27 February 2003, Official Report, column 726W.
	Executive non-departmental public bodies are not staffed by civil servants. Sickness absence rates for these staff are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate costs

Tourism

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations regarding his proposals to revise PPG21 he has received from the tourist industry.

Tony McNulty: To date the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received 44 responses of which 20 are from the tourism industry. The consultation period closes on 23 May 2003. After that date all responses received will be fully considered before any decision is taken on the proposals put forward in the consultation paper. Responses will also be made publicly available at the close of the consultation exercise.

Welfare Services

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received about the Local Authorities (Charges for Specified Welfare Services) (England) Regulations.

Tony McNulty: To the best of my knowledge the office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not received any representations in relation to these regulations.

Wind Turbines

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the liability of onshore wind turbines for non-domestic rates.

Christopher Leslie: The policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is that the turbines should be liable for rates in the same way as the generality of non-domestic property.
	The rateable values of the turbines are currently calculated by rules prescribed by the Secretary of State in the Electricity Supply Industry (Rateable Values) (England) Order 2000. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to end in 2005 the prescribed rating of turbines. Rateable values would then be set in the same way as they are currently set for most properties, that is by valuation officers not by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Civil Service (People with Disabilities)

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in the Department.

Rosie Winterton: In May 2000 my Department set targets to increase the number of staff with disabilities in the Senior Civil Service (SCS) to 3 per cent. by 1 April 2002; and to 4.5 per cent. by 1 April 2005. As at 31 March 2003 3.6 per cent. of the SCS had declared a disability taking us beyond the target for the date.
	My Department uses open competition in selection which provides a wide pool of diverse applicants, and advertisements are placed in the disability media. A comprehensive outreach pack giving practical guidance on widening our appeal as an employer is currently being finalised. An annual report incorporating employment statistics by disability is produced and published to all staff. A mandatory Diversity Awareness Training course for all staff and a staff-run Disability Network assists in creating an environment in which individuals with a disability are encouraged to declare their disability. A team of Disabled Persons' Liaison Officers works with the Disability Service Teams at Job Centre Plus to provide advice and assistance. My Department promotes actively the Bursary Scheme for civil servants with a disability and provides mentors from the SCS to support the Scheme. The Department nominates a group of delegates annually to attend the Civil Service College "Personal Development for Disabled People" course. To promote the European Year of Disabled People, a series of articles is being published on particular disabilities in our internal departmental journal and comprehensive guidance is being prepared for individuals with disabilities and their managers on how to obtain reasonable adjustments, in the field of employment.

National Minimum Wage

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to her Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour.

Rosie Winterton: Staff in my Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are already on salary levels above £4.50 per hour. Some additional costs to the Department may arise if external contractors providing services such as cleaning and catering are affected by the increase in the national minimum wage, but at this stage it is not possible to assess what these costs might be.